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EWPORT 

IL! J  1ST  RATED 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 


GIFT  OF 

Professor 
John  B.  Leighly 


*/ 


tj<  ^e^t^^y^ 


/ 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1S54,  by 

GEORGE  C.  MASON, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  State-s 
for  the  Southern  District  of  New  York. 


H.  JOCEI.YN,    ELECTROTYPES,  C.  A,  AtVORP,  I'RTNTEK, 

5£  &  (JO  FvlLoa  St.  29  Gold  St. 


GIFI 


/vrA^ 


CONTEXTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 
Newport  a  Fashionable  Watering  Place 

CHAPTER  II. 
Early  History  of  Newport    .     ,     .     .     . 


10 


CHAPTER  III. 

Newport  Harbor.     Fort  Adams.     Castle  Hill.     Rrenton's 

Reef.     Grave's  Point.     Lily  Pond      Spouting  Rock.       17 


CHAPTER  IV. 

City  Hall.  Washington  Square.  Com.  Perry's  House. 
Zion  Church.  Central  Baptist  Church.  Dr.  Stiles. 
Newport  Artillery.  Vernon  Mansion  House.  Hon. 
Wm.  Vernon,  landing  of  Washington  and  recep- 
tion by  Rochambeau.  Illumination  of  the  town 


26 


CHAPTER  V. 

State  House  and  Parade.     Stuart's  Picture  of  Washington. 

Judge  Lightfoot 3S 


515 


4  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Church  Street.  Residence  of  Rev.  James  Honyman.  Jas. 
Honyman,  Esq.  Mrs.  Cowley's  Assembly  Ptoom. 
Ball  given  by  the  French  Officers.  Ball  given  by  the 
citizens  to  Washington  and  Rochambeau.  Ball  giv- 
en to  Washington.  Trinity  Church.  Euneral  of 
Chevalier  De  Ternay.  Ptectors  of  Trinity  Church. 
Destruction  of  the  Altar  Piece  after  the  Evacuation. 
Bishop  Berkeley.  Masonic  Hall.  Wm.  E.  Chan- 
ning.  Esq .     .     42 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Easton's  Beach.  Bathing.  Fishermen  Drawing  their 
Nets.  Purgatory.  Sachuest  Point.  Capture  of  the 
Pigot  by  Major  Talbot.     Tautog  and  Bass  Fishing.         49 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
Old  Stone  Mill 59 

CHAPTER    IX. 
Redwood  Library.    Jewish  Cemetery.    Jewish  Synagogue.     61 

CHAPTER  X. 

South  Touro  Street.     Buildings    recently    erected.     Boat 

House  Landing.    Coggeshall's  Ledge.    Spouting  Cave.     65 

CHAPTER  XL 
The  Glen 67 

CHAPTER   XJI. 

Excursion  over  the  Bay       Fort   Adams.      Rose    Island. 

The  Dumplings 70 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
Church  of   the  Holy   Cross.     Capture  of   Gen.   Prescott. 


CONTENTS.  5 

Redwood  House.    Butt's  Hill.    Law  ton's  Valley.    R. 

I.  Coal  Mines 74 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
Steamboats  running  to  and  from  Newport 70 

CHAPTER  XV. 

The  Point.  Washington  Street.  Dr.  Wm.  Hunter.  Hon. 
Win.  Hunter.  Death  of  Chevalier  De  Ternay.  Fort 
Greene 80 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Tammany  Hill.     Tammany   Hill    Institute.     Malbone's 

Garden.    Smilert.    Allston.    Stuart.    Art  in  America.     83 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

The  Newport  Mercury.     James  Franklin.     Brenton  Town 

House.     Judge  Halliburton 88 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

A  ride  to   Green  End,   Hon y man's  Hill,  Whitehall,  and 

over  the  Beaches W   ...     91 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
Liberty  Tree.    Henry  Marchant,  Esq.    Hon.  Wm  Ellery.     101 

CHAPTER  XX. 

First  Baptist  Church.  Second  Baptist.  Central  Baptist. 
Methodist.  Unitarian.  Episcopal  Mission.  Friends. 
Roman  Catholic.     Congregational.     Union  Colored.     lOu 


CHAPTER   I 


tfKWPOKT    A    FASHIONABLE    WATERING    PLACE. 


here  is  nothing 
surprising  in  the  fact 
that  Newport  has  be- 
come a'  Fashionable 
Watering  place;'  the 
wonder  is,  that  so 
many  years  were  re- 
quired to  make  its 
many  attractions 
g  known  to  those  who 
"  habitually  leave  the 
crowded  cities,  on 
the  approach  of  summer's  heat,  in  search  of  some 
favored  spot  where  they  may  enjoy  a  cool  and  in- 
vigorating air,  bathe  on  a  beach  washed  by  the 
ocean  waves,  ramble  over  verdant  hills  and  vales  and 
pleasant  fields,  or  pause  to  rest  on  some  bold  cliff 
that  commands  a  view  far  seaward. 

The  inhabitants  of  Newport  do  not  fully  appreciate 
the  charms  of  the  island.  They  have  always  enjoyed 
the  blessings  by  which  they  are  surrounded ;  they 
have  ever  breathed  a  healthy  atmosphere,  and  are 
never  oppressed  by  excessive  heat,  or  forced  to  look 
upon  pastures  burnt  to  a  crisp  by  an  August  sun ;  they 
do  not  realize  the  full  meaning  of  exhaustion   and 


8  NEWPORT       ILLUSTRATED. 

lassitude  in  the  dog  days ;  and  can  scarcely  estimate 
the  daily  reports  at  that  trying  season,  from  less  favor- 
ed spots,  of  suffering  and  mortality.  But  when  they 
chance  to  roam,  their  eyes  are  opened  to  the  blessings 
at  home,  and,  if  forced  to  remain  long  absent,  the 
dream  of  their  life  is  to  return  and  here  rest  in  their 
declining  days.  There  is  no  trait  in  the  charac- 
ter of  Rhode  Islanders  more  marked  than  that  of 
attachment  to  their  native  soil.  On  their  return,  after 
a  long  sojourn,  they  visit  every  spot  made  familiar  in 
early  life,  and  consider  every  moment  so  spent  as  a 
fitting  reward  for  years  of  toil  in  a  strange  land. 

The  natural  attractions  of  Newport  are  great,  but 
it  does  not  depend  on  these  alone  to  engage  the  atten- 
tion of  strangers  who  would  while  away  a  few  summer 
days  by  the  sea  shore.  On  every  hand  are  beautiful 
country  seats  of  every  known  and  unknown  order  of  ar- 
chitecture ;  numerous  hotels,  and  all  well  conducted ; 
libraries  of  well  stored  and  well  selected  books,  easy 
of  access;  society  composed  of  the  leading  men  of 
the  country,  in  all  the  walks  of  life ;  stately  matrons, 
and  dashing  belles — all  combine  their  attractions,  and 
serve  to  make  Newport  the  most  desirable  and  popular 
of  summer  resorts. 

In  localities  where  nature  has  done  but  little,  fashion 
may  have  the  sway  for  a  time.  Crowds  may  flock  to 
a  point  that  boasts  of  no  charm  but  its  ocean  view, 
or  to  the  hot  and  arid  sands  bordering  some  inland 
water;  but  the  excitement  cannot  long  be  sustained. 
At  Newport  it  is  altogether  the  reverse.  Here,  those 
who  come  to  pass  a  few  weeks  are  soon  charmed  with 
the  climate  and  scenery  of  the  island ;  a  desire  to 


NEWPORT      ILLUSTRATED.  9 

build  becomes  irresistible,  and  the  result  is,  a  lot  with 
a  commanding  view  is  purchased,  a  neat  cottage 
erected,  and  the  happy  household  only  leave  for  their 
winter  quarters  when  the  north  winds  and  the  Calling 
leaves  proclaim  the  warm  season  at  an  end. 

Thousands  now  assemble  at  Newport  every  year; 
and  during  their  stay,  one  great  source  ol  pleasure  is 
to  visit  the  most  inviting  scenes,  and  the  spots  ren- 
dered interesting  by  their  historical  associations.  To 
aid  those  who  would  dispense  with  the  servu  es  of  a 
guide,  and  wander  alone  by  the  sea  shore  and  over 
the  pleasant  bill  sides,  this  little  work  is  designed. 
In  preparing  it,  the  writer's  object  has  been  simply  to 
impart  such  information  as  would  be  likely  to  prove 
acceptable ;  and  to  make  it  the  more  attractive,  he 
has  added  a  few  historical  reminiscences,  presenting 
an  occasional  picture  of  life  in  colonial  limes,  as 
contrasted  well  with  the  gay  scenes  witnessed  here 
at  the  present  day,  when  the  season  is  at  its  bight. 


CHAPTER    II. 


early  history  of  nuwport. 


IN  1638,  Governor  Coddington,  having  associated 
himself  with  seventeen  others,  purchased  Aquid- 
neck — "  Isle  of  Peace  " — of  the  Indian  sachems,  in 
his  own  name  as  agent.  The  company  immediately 
took  possession  of  the  island,  and  settled  on  its  north- 
ern extremity,  where  they  proposed  establishing  a 
colony.  A  town  was  regularly  laid  out,  and  called 
Pocasset — now  known  as  Portsmouth.  The  colony 
prospered,  and  during  the  following  summer  search 
was  made  for  a  more  favorable  location,  which  resulted 
in  the  selection  of  the  south-western  extremity  of  the 
island,  now  known  as  Newport.  The  following 
spring  a  part  of  the  colony  moved  to  the  new  site, 
laid  out  the  principal  streets,  and  commenced  the 
erection  of  houses.  At  a  subsequent  date,  the  island, 
by  order  of  the  General  Court,  was  called  the  "  Isle 
of  Rhodes,"  or  Rhode  Island,  on  account  of  its  great 
resemblance  to  the  beautiful  Isle  of  Rhodes  in  the 
Mediterranean. 

Rhode  Island  is  situated  in  Narragansett  Bay,  in 
lat.  41  deg.  29  min.,  long.  71  deg.  20  min.  It  is 
fifteen  miles  in  length,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Newport 
about  four  in  width,  gradually  diminishing  toward  the 
north  until  it  terminates  in  a  point.  The  shore  line 
is  eighty  miles. 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED.  11 

Newport  is  beautifully  situated  on  a  hill  sloping 
gently  to  the  harbor  on  the  west.  It  is  laid  out  with 
some  degree  of  regularity ;  the  principal  streets  run- 
ning north  ,and  south,  and  crossed  at  right  angles. 
The  ancient  part  of  the  city  is  compact ;  that  of  recent 
date  is  open  and  tastefully  arranged.  The  inner  har- 
bor is  formed  by  the  Town  on  the  east,  the  Neck  on 
the  south,  terminating  in  Brenton's  Point ;  Goat  Island 
on  the  west,  with  an  opening  to  the  north  and  also 
to  the  south-west.  The  outer  harbor  comprises  that 
portion  of  Narragansett  Bay  lying  between  Rhode 
Island  on  the  east  and  the  island  of  Conanicut  on  the 
west,  opening  to  the  ocean  on  the  south,  and  to  the 
north  running  into  Providence  River.  The  entrance 
to  the  harbor  is  two  miles  in  width,  twenty-nine  fath- 
oms in  depth,  and  in  only  one  instance  has  it  been 
closed  by  ice  since  the  first  settlement.  The  ap- 
proach to  the  harbor  is  so  free  from  obstructions  of 
every  kind,  that  a  stranger  may  enter  in  safety  without 
the  aid  of  a  pilot.  Vessels  can  enter  and  depart  with 
any  wind  ;  and  the  united  fleets  of  the  world  could 
here  find  safe  and  commodious  anchorage. 

Rhode  Island  is  connected  with  the  main  on  the 
east  by  a  substantial  stone  bridge,  which  is  owned  by 
a  company  who  realize  a  small  dividend  from  the 
tolls.  There  is  also  a  telegraph  communicating  be- 
tween Newport,  New  York,  Boston  and  Providence, 
via  Fall  River.  The  distance  from  Newport  to  Prov- 
idence is  thirty  miles ;  to  Fall  River  eighteen,  and 
from  there  to  Boston,  by  railway,  fifty-three  ;  to  Point 
Judith  fifteen;  to  Block  Island  thirty;  and  lo  New 
York  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  miles. 


12  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 

The  public  buildings  of  Newport  are  the  State 
House,  a  well  arranged  and  commodious  building, 
situated  at  the  head  of  the  Parade  ;  the  City  Hall,  at 
the  corner  oi'  Thames  Street  and  the  Long  Wharf ; 
the  Redwood  Library,  one  of  the  most  classical  build- 
ings in  the  country  ;  the  Jewish  Synagogue,  three 
Baptist,  one  Congregational,  one  Unitarian,  three 
Episcopal  Churches,  one  Episcopal  Mission,  and  two 
FrienuV  Meeting-houses.  There  are  eight  Hotels, 
four  of  which  are  only  opened  during  the  summer  for 
the  accommodation  of  the  crowds  who  resort  here 
during  the  season.  There  are  also  seven  Banks,  with 
an  aggregate  capital  of  SGC0,CC0,  on  which  an  annual 
dividend  of  six  per  cent,  is  usually  paid.  To  these 
must  be  added  a  Bank  for  Savings.  Its  deposits, 
which  are  rapidly  increasing,  amount  at  the  present 
time  to  $4C0,C00. 

On  the  breaking  out  cf  the  Revolution,  great  num- 
bers of  the  inhabitants  left  ihc  Island  ;  and  during  the 
summer  and  fall  of  1776,  Newport  remained  in  a  dis- 
tressed condition,  without  commerce,  without  defense, 
except  a  few  guns  at  Brcnton's  Point,  ar:d  with  a 
prostration  of  business  of  all  kinds.  The  British  fleet 
arrived,  and  the  troops  took  possession  of  the  town, 
and  remained  three  years.  During  their  stay  New- 
port was  under  martial  law.  Before  leaving,  they 
destroyed  four  hundred  and  eighty  buildings  cf  various 
classes,  burned  the  lighthouse  at  Beaver  Tail,  cut 
down  all  the  ornamental  and  fruit  trees,  broke  up 
nearly  all  tic  wharves,  and  the  places  of  public  wor- 
ship, wi  Ji  two  exceptions,  were  used  as  riding  schools 
and   stables.     The   State   House  they  turned   into  a 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED.  13 

hospital.  The  church  bells,  with  one  exception — a 
present  from  Queen  Anne — the  machinery  from  the 
distilleries,  and  the  Town  Records,  were  carried  off 
to  New  York ;  and  when  at  length  they  evacuated 
the  place,  the  wells  were  filled  up,  and  as  much  prop- 
erty as  possible  destroyed,  by  order  of  the  British 
commander. 

The  British  army  quartered  on  the  town  numbered 
8,000  English  and  Hessians.  They  encamped  in 
summer,  but  in  winter  forced  themselves  into  the 
houses  of  the  inhabitants. 

From  1778  to  the  time  that  the  island  was  evacu- 
ated, contributions  were  constantly  made  by  States, 
towns,  parishes,  religious  societies,  companies  and 
individuals,  for  the  benefit  of  the  sufferers  at  Newport. 
The  State  granted  one  hundred  and  sixty  cords  of 
wood,  then  worth  twenty  silver  dollars  a  cord,  and 
j£l,000  to  the  poor.  Old  houses  were  torn  down  and 
one  ship  broken  up,  for  fuel.  So  great  was  the  de- 
mand for  food,  that  corn  brought  four  silver  dollars  a 
bushel,  and  half  that  sum  was  demanded  for  the  same 
quantity  of  potatoes. 

During  the  stay  of  the  British  there  were  always 
vessels  of  war  in  attendance,  numbering,  at  times,  as 
many  as  seventy  men-of-war  and  transports ;  and 
when  the  French  fleet,  under  Count  D'Estaing,  ap- 
peared off  the  coast,  the  British  destroyed  many  ships 
to  prevent  their  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  French. 
The  Lark,  Orpheus,  Juno,  Ceberius,  Kingfisher,  Grand 
Turk  and  others  were  burned,  two  galleys  were  blown 
up,  the  Flora  sunk,  and  fifteen  large  transports  scat- 
tered and  sunk  in  the  outer  harbor  ;  while  the  Falcon 


14  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED 

sloop-of-war  and  thirty  armed  vessels  were  sunk  in 
the  inner  harbor. 

The  Britibh  evacuated  in  1779.  At  that  time  the 
population  of  the  Town  was  reduced  from  12,000  to 
4,000.  After  the  troops  left,  the  Town  was  used  for 
cartels  between  New  York  and  the  New  England 
States.  Many  of  the  inhabitants  returned,  but  it  was 
generally  the  poorer  class,  which  only  increased  the 
distress.  Efforts  were  shortly  made  to  restore  the 
commerce,  and  a  few  privateers  were  sent  out,  which 
brought  in  many  prizes ;  but  owing  to  the  exposed 
situation  of  the  place,  and  the  long  period  it  had  been 
in  the  possession  of  the  British,  other  towns,  with 
fewer  natural  advantages,  took  the  lead  in  commercial 
enterprise. 

We  have  no  statistics  to  which  wre  can  refer  for 
facts  connected  with  the  commerce  of  Newport;  the 
Town  having  been  literally  sacked  by  the  British,  and 
all  the  valuable  documents  destroyed  or  carried  off. 
But  there  is  yet  data  extant  that  must  be  taken  as 
evidence  of  her  early  commercial  relations,  and  the 
high  position  of  her  merchants,  until  they  were  ruined 
or  scattered  by  the  war.  Probably  on  no  spot  in  the 
colonies  was  there  concentrated  more  individual  opu- 
lence, learning  and  science,  than  in  Newport.  In 
architectural  taste  and  costly  structures,  she  was 
unsurpassed  ;  and  was  styled  the  emporium  of  fashion, 
refinement  and  taste.  Her  seamen  were  bold  and 
hardy,  and  first  carried  the  whaling  business  as  far  as 
the  Falkland  Islands.  Her  manufactures  were  highly 
esteemed  throughout  the  country  and  the  West  Indies, 
and  the   remains  of  her  extensive  distilleries  are  still 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED.  15 

visible  in  various  parts  of  the  Town.  Of  these  distil- 
leries there  were  upwards  of  thirty,  erected  at  great 
expense.  To  supply  them  with  molasses,  a  fleet  of 
vessels  was  constantly  employed  between  Newport 
and  the  West  Indies ;  and  at  this  time  the  seamen  of 
the  port  numbered  twenty-two  hundred. 

The  following  facts  in  regard  to  the  trade  of  New- 
port in  her  palmy  days,  1764,  are  set  forth  in  a  protest 
against  the  Sugar  Act. 

"  Of  the  foreign  vessels,  one  hundred  and  fifty  are  annually- 
employed  in  the  West  India  trade,  which  import  into  this 
colony  about  fourteen  thousand  hogsheads  of  molasses,  whereof 
a  quantity,  not  less  than  twenty-five  hundred  hogsheads,  is 
from  English  islands.  It  is  this  quantity  of  molasses  which 
serves  as  an  engine  in  the  hands  of  the  merchant  to  effect  the 
great  purpose  of  paying  for  British  manufactures  ;  for  a  part 
of  it  is  exported  to  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  to  New  York  and 
Pennsylvania,  to  pay  for  British  goods,  for  provisions,  and 
many  articles  which  compose  our  West  India  cargoes  ;  and 
part  to  other  colonies,  southward  of  these  last  mentioned,  for 
such# commodities  as  serve  for  a  remittance  immediately  to 
Europe,  such  as  rice,  naval  stores,  &c,  or  such  as  are  necessary 
to  enable  us  to  carry  on  our  commerce.  The  remainder,  (be- 
sides what  is  consumed  by  the  inhabitants,)  is  distilled  into 
rum,  and  exported  to  Africa." 

Dr.  Waterhouse,  in  an  article  published  in  1824, 
entitled  "  Medical  Literature  of  Rhode  Island,"  says 
of  Newport,  "  It  was  the  chosen  resort  of  the  rich  and 
philosophic,  from  nearly  all  quarters  of  the  world.' 
He  then  adds  :  , 

"  There  were  more  complete  chemical  laboratories  in  Piliode 
Island,  than  were  to  be  found  anywhere  in  Massachusetts  prior 
to  fifteen  years  ago.  If  it  be  asked,  what  were  they  doing  in 
Philadelphia  at  this  time  1  we  answer,  nothing,  if  we  except 
Franklin's  exhibition  of  electricity.  There  was  then  no  con- 
siderable library,  public  or  private  except  one  owned  by  Wil- 
liam Logan,  Esq.,  another  wealthy  and  generous  patron  of 
literature  amoug  the  Quakers — the  Abraham  Redwood  of  Penn- 


16  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 

sylvania,  Is  it  asked,  what  were  they  doing  in  the  medical 
and  philosophical  line  in  Boston  at  this  time"?  Pelting  Dr. 
Boy lston  with  stones  as  he  passed  the  streets  in  the  day,  and  break- 
%ng  his  windows  at  night,  for  introducing  inoculation  for  small  pox. 
What  were  they  doing  at  Cambridge  between  1721  and  1754"! — 
ask  your  grandfathers — and  what  were  they  doing  in  Uhode 
Island  ]  Reading  the  best  collection  of  books  to  be  found  in 
New  England,  (Cambridge  only  excepted,)  which  gave  to 
Newport  a  literary  cast  of  character  which  it  sustained  until 
the  Revolution ;  that  is,  till  their  distinguished  men  were 
scattered." 

Up  to  the  war  of  1812,  Newport  dragged  slowly 
along;  her  commerce  gradually  improved,  and  her 
merchants,  in  a  measure,  regained  lost  ground.  Of 
later  years,  the  Island  has  become  the  resort  of  thou- 
sands during  the  summer,  and  it  once  more  presents 
a  gay  and  animated  appearance.  Hundreds  of  beau- 
tiful buildings  have  been  erected  during  the  past  five 
years ;  the  taxable  property  has  increased  over  a 
million  of  dollars  ;  and  it  is  now  esteemed  a  favor  to 
obtain  a  fine  site  for  a  house  at  so  much  a  foot,  where 
a  few  seasons  ago  the  same  money  would  have  pur- 
chased acres  of  the  most  desirable  land.  Some  of 
the  changes  that  have  been  effected  in  the  appearance 
of  Newport,  we  shall  point  out  in  the  following  pages. 


CHAPTER    III. 


NEWPORT     HARBOR. FORT    ADAMS. CASTLE    HILL. BRENTON 

REEF. GRAVES     POINT. LILY    POND. SPOUTING    ROCK. 


F  the  many  beautiful  roads 
leading  from  Newport,  we 
scarce  know  which  to  take  for  a  ride  ;  but  at  a  venture, 
will  turn  southward  and  drive  into  Brenton's  Neck. 

Leaving  the  main  road  beyond  the  Coddington  mill 
and  just  opposite  the  Gas  Works,  we  enter  on  a  road 
leading  nearly  west,  cross  a  small  stream  that  winds 
far  up  among  the  grassy  slopes,  and  pass  along  a  quiet 
beach  ;  the  land  gently  rising  on  the  left ;  and  on  the 
right,  the  bay,  harbor  and  city  are  spread  out  to  view. 
On  the  hill  above  are  the  traces  of  an  old  redoubt,  built 
during  the  last  war  with  England,  and  called  Fort 
Denham.  In  its  day  it  was  a  small  breastwork,  cal- 
culated for  a  few  guns  to  rake  the  inner  harbor,  and 
to  keep  up  the  communication  between  the  town  and 
2* 


18  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 

Fort  Adams,  then  a  small  work  on  the  site  of  the 
present  fort  of  the  same  name. 

A  short  distance  beyond,  the  road  gradually  rises 
to  the  brow  of  the  hill,  where  a  fine  view  may  be 
obtained ;  and  it  is  well  here  to  pause  and  gaze  upon 
the  scene.  The  few  scattered  sails,  mirrored  in  the 
placid  waters,  will  recall  to  mind  the  day  when  the 
commerce  of  Newport  was  second  only  to  that  of 
Bostoia ;  and  the  forts  on  either  hand  incline  one  to 
picture  the  scenes  here  enacted  in  the  struggle  for 
Independence.  Years  before  the  "  Boston  Tea  Par- 
ty," Newport  resisted  England's  power.  Where  rises 
now  the  small  white  building  on  yonder  crescent- 
shaped  island, — once  the  burial  place  of  pirates, — the 
ill-fated  sloop  "  Liberty  "  was  given  to  the  flames  by 
an  insulted  people.  On  these  waters  Percy  and 
Clinton  once  reigned  supreme.  Here  assembled  the 
fleet  of  Lord  Howe,  and  here  D'Estaing  went  forth  to 
engage  his  foe  in  mortal  combat.  Here  the  reckless 
and  cruel  Wallace  terrified  the  unarmed  inhabitants — 
threatening  by  day,  burning  and  sacking  by  night. 
From  this  port  Burgoyne  sailed  for  England  after  his 
memorable  defeat,  and  it  was  across  this  Bay  that 
Prescott  was  rowed  by  the  daring  Barton.  Here  the 
French  brought  joy  to  the  hearts  of  the  distressed ; 
here  they  gayly  sang  and  danced,  and  here  their 
funeral  dirge  followed  De  Ternay  to  his  early  grave. 
Here  the  privateers  that  swarmed  from  this  and  other 
ports,  found  shelter  and  a  market  for  their  prizes. 
Here  Cook's  famed  ship  Endeavor,  dismantled,  con- 
demned and  left  to  decay  upon  the  shore.  Here 
Perry,  in  his  gunboats,  burned    for   a   nobler  field; 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 


19 


here  the  Lexington  landed  his  remains  in  after  years  ; 
and  here  the  Macedonian,  prize  of  the  United  States, 
was  first  brought  to  anchor  beneath  the  stars  and 
stripes.  Or  if  we  turn  to  Colonial  times,  we  see  the 
little  sloop  boldly  sent  out  to  cope  with  a  lawless 
rover ;  the  three  small  vessels  furnished  to  aid  in  the 
capture  of  Port  Royal  and  the  ten  or  fifteen  privateers 
that  joined  in  the  attack  on  Louisburg.  These  and 
many  other  scenes,  alike  interesting,  have  been  enacted 
in 


NEWPORT     HARBOR. 


Those  who  would  view  it  from  the  finest  point, 
should  spend  an  hour  on  these  gentle  slopes.  To  the 
north  the  waters  of  the  Bay  are  seen  reaching  far 
inland,  broken  by  numerous  small  islands  and  the 
sails  of  vessels  passing  to  and  fro.  On  Goat  Island, 
directly  in  front  of  the  spectator,  stand  the  remains  of 
Fort  Wolcott,  originally  called  Fort  Ann,  subsequently 
named  Fort  George,  and  at  a  later  period  known  by  its 
present  name.  On  the  island  in  mid-channel — Rose 
Island — portions  of  a  considerable  fort  are  still  visi- 


20  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 

ble ;  but  from  long  neglect,  the  breastwork  and  bar- 
racks have  fallen  into  complete  ruin.  Coasters'  Har- 
bor Island  is  seen  to  the  north,  just  beyond  the  city, 
and  the  large  building  rising  from  its  centre  is  the 
Asylum  of  the  Poor.  There  Clarke  and  his  small 
band  of  followers  landed  in  1639,  in  search  of  a  spot 
whereon  to  found  a  settlement.  The  beauties  of  the 
scene,  and  the  advantages  of  the  land-locked  harbor, 
they  could  appreciate  ;  and  to  clear  the  swamp  where 
portions  of  Newport  now  stand,  the  aid  of  their  Indian 
allies  was  obtained.  The  large  work  to  the  left  is 
Fort  Adams.  It  was  commenced  in  1814,  and  up  to 
the  close  of  1850  had  cost  the  government  $1,692,000. 
With  the  redoubt  at  the  south,  it  is  calculated  to  mount 
four  hundred  and  sixty-eight  guns,  and  will  garrison 
three  thousand  men. 

The  road  will  take  us  directly  to  the  Fort.  As  we 
approach,  we  pass  over  a  fine  causeway  to  the  east, 
and  here  gain  another  view  of  the  city.  But  pause  a 
moment,  leave  the  road,  and  descend  to  the  shore  of 
Brenton's  Cove,  just  beyond  the  government  stables, 
where  the  best  view  may  be  obtained.  The  tall  and 
delicate  spires  of  the  Churches  cut  sharp  against  the 
blue  sky ;  the  public  buildings  stand  out  in  noble 
relief;  and  the  line  of  houses,  as  they  rise  one  above 
another  on  the  hill-side,  are  broken  by  open  grounds 
and  clusters  of  shade  trees.  Each  spot  on  which  the 
eye  may  chance  to  rest,  recalls  some  event  that  trans- 
pired there  in  earlier  times. 

Entering  the  main  work  from  the  east,  we  at  once 
open  on  the  parade  ground — covering  not  less  than 
eleven  acres — where,  on  Tuesday  and  Friday,  in  the 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED.  21 

summer,  at  6  P.  M.,  when  there  are  troops  stationed 
here,  the  band  plays  for  an  hour  At  such  times  the 
vehicles  of  visitors  drive  round  and  round  the  square, 
an  endless  chain,  in  the  centre  of  which  the  band 
stand,  filling  the  air  with  delightful  music. 

Leaving  the  Fort  for  a  wider  scope,  we  again  take 
the  road  leading  west.  A  short  distance  from  the 
first  gate,  stands  a  dark  house  with  brick  ends.  It  is 
all  that  remains  of  one  of  the  most  noted  dwellings  in 
the  early  history  of  the  Island.  It  was  built  by  Gov. 
William  Brenton,  who  then  owned  nearly  the  whole 
Neck ;  and  the  grounds  through  which  the  road  now 
winds,  were  adorned  with  rare  and  costly  plants, 
gravel  walks,  groves  and  bowers,  and  all  that  wealth  and 
a  refined  taste  could  obtain  in  this  and  foreign  lands. 

The  road  passes  through  several  fine  farms,  to  the 
last — the  Castle  Hill  Farm — on  the  western  shore  of 
the  Neck.  Passing  through  the  farmyard,  the  road 
leads  directly  to  the  beach,  where  fine  breakers  may 
at  all  times  be  seen. 

The  rising  ground  to  the  right  is  surmounted  by  a 
rampart  that  once  was  garrisoned,  but  now  it  can 
scarcely  be  distinguished  from  the  inequalities  of  the 
surrounding  earth.  It  still  retains  the  name  of  Castle 
Hill. 

The  water  at  the  base  of  these  rocks  is  twenty-nine 
fathoms  in  depth,  and  during  the  spring  and  fall  this 
is  the  resort  of  the  tautog  fishers. 

A  short  distance  to  the  south,  and  extending  a  mile 
into  the  sea,  Brenton's  Reef  shows  its  dangerous 
rocks,  its  entire  length  traced  by  the  breakers  that 
continually  tumble  over  the  higher  points.     The  boat- 


22 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED 


men  find  fish  abundant  along  these  rocks,  but  it  re- 
quires skill  and  experience  to  approach  a  shore  so 
treacherous.  The  grass  has  not  yet  grown  over  the 
graves  of  four  unfortunate  seamen  who  here  perished 
with  their  vessel. 

Beyond  the  reef,  and  some  three  miles  from  land, 
rides  the  lightboat  Ledyard ;  and  in  the  extreme  dis- 
tance, 

"  Veiled  in  thin  mist  of  softest  blue," 

one  easily  discerns  the  outlines  of  Point  Judith  and 
Block  Island. 

The  next  point  of  interest  along  this  shore  is 
Grave's  Point,  so  named  from  the  graves  of  two  un- 
known men  who  were  there  washed  ashore,  and  were 
buried  where  „ 

"  No  tears  but  the  spray  wet  the  mariner's  grave, 
And  the  sea  breathes  for  ever  his  dirge." 

In  returning  we  take  the  old  road,  which  turns  off 
at  a  point  east  of  Fort  Adams,  on  the  top  of  the  hill, 
and  comes  out  near  the 


LILY    POND, 


NEWPORT      ILLUSTRATED.  23 

A  favorite  spot  and  the  largest  sheet  of  spring 
water  on  the  Island.  From  the  hill,  over  which  the 
road  winds,  the  view  is  ever  pleasing.  The  pond  is 
placed  between  picturesque  hills — those  on  the  left 
abound  with  trees — gently  fallin  gto  the  shingle  on  the 
south,  known  as  the  Rocky  Farm  beach. 

The  waters  of  Lily  Pond  are  famous  for  perch, 
great  numbers  of  which  are  taken  by  the  angler  an 
hour  before  and  after  dusk  ;  fishing  from  banks  that 
are  fragrant  with  wild  flowers,  and  casting  his  hook 
beneath  the  matted  leaves  of  the  pond  lily  that  rise 
to  the  surface  on  every  hand. 

u  Bright  and  queen-like  the  array 
Of  Lilies  in  their  crystal  bed : 
Like  chalices  for  Beauty's  lip 
Their  snowy  cones  half  open  lie, 
The  dew-drops  of  the  morn  to  sip, 
But  close  to  day's  intrusive  eye." 

Beyond  the  Lily  Pond,  looking  seaward,  there  is  a 
view  of  Gooseberry  Island,  with  its  picturesque 
groups  of  stunted  sumacs,  and  its  barriers  of  dark 
rocks,  here  and  there  whitened  by  the  breaking 
waves  ,•  and  far  off  on  the  horizon  are  seen  the  sails 
of  vessels  passing  east  and  west — a  fairer  scene  on  a 
quiet  summer's  day  one  is  seldom  permitted  to  enjoy. 

From  the  Lily  Pond  the  road  to  the  left  leads  to 
the  Beach,  and  on  the  extreme  end  of  the  point,  on 
the  same  hand,  will  be  found  the  far  famed  Spouting 
Cave. 

One  may  approach  it  at  this  season  to  hear  the  surf 
beating  against  the  sides  of  the  inmost  caverns,  but 
to  see  it  spout  volumes  of  water  from  the  "  horn" — as 
it   is    sometimes    called — it  must  be  visited  after  a 


24  NEWPORT      ILLUSTRATED 


SPOUTING  CAVE. 


tempest  from  the  SE.,  during  the  winter  or  spring 
months.  At  such  times,  when  the  whole  ocean,  as  far 
as  the  eye  can  reach,  is  lashed  into  fury,  and  the 
breakers  dash  against  the  rocks  with  a  force  that  makes 
the  whole  earth  tremble,  the  spray  mounts  in  clouds, 
and  all  who  venture  too  near,  are  wet  with  mist. 
Then,  when  all  nature  is  in  commotion,  the  Spouting 
Cave  catches  the  wild  spirit  and  adds  its  thunder  to 
awe  the  more  hardy,  should  they  approach  its  mouth. 
The  waves  madly  sporting  on  the  shore,  rush  with 
terrific  fury  through  its  open  throat  into  the  bowels 
of  the  rock ;  there  meeting  a  wall  of  adamant, 
chafed,  torn  and  shivered,  they  find  vent  above  in  a 
jet  of  foam  that  darts  far  upward  in  the  air,  and 
spreads  its  whitening  mist  on  all  around.     Man  gazes 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED.  25 

on  the  ocean  appalled.  The  sky  is  dark  and  lower- 
ing, the  earth  quivers  beneath  his  feet,  the  waters 
give  an  angry  roar  and  again  rush  headlong  to  the 
shore,  as  if  to  annihilate  the  very  rocks  that  oppose 
their  way. 

Who  can  gaze  upon  the  quiet  ripple  of  to-day,  and 
feel  without  awe,  that  nature  can  in  a  moment  change 
her  peaceful  lullaby  for  the  storm  king's  awful  notes  ! 
3 


CHAPTER   IV. 


CITY    HALL. WASHINGTON     SQUARE. COM.     PERRY  S    HOUSE. 

ZION     CHURCH. CENTRAL    BAPTIST    CHURCH. DR.     STILES. 

NEWPORT       ARTILLERY. VERNON       MANSION       HOUSE. HON. 

WM.      VERNON. LANDING      OF       WASHINGTON    AND     RECEPTION 

BY  ROCHAMBEAU. ILLUMINATION  OF  THE  TOWN. 

AT  the  head  of  Long  Wharf  and  facing  the  Parade, 
stands  the  City  Hall,  a  brick  building  of  good 
proportions  and  dating  back  to  1763.  It  was  erected 
as  a  public  market  and  granary,  and  by  the  older 
inhabitant,  is  still  called  the  "  Granary."  For  a 
number  of  years  the  upper  story  was  used  as  a 
Theatre  ;  subsequently  it  was  renovated  and  con- 
verted into  a  public  hall,  now  known  as  the  City  Hall, 


NEWPORT      ILLUSTRATED.  27 

The  lower  story  has  always  been  devoted  to  a  mar- 
ket and  the  watch-house. 

The  large  building  opposite  to  the  City  Hall,  making 
the  south  corner  of  the  Parade  and  Thames  Street,  the 
upper  portion  of  which  is  occupied  by  William's  Da- 
guerreian  Gallery,  was  owned  by  Dr.  Isaac  Seuter, 
and  was  occupied  by  him  during  his  residence  in 
Newport. 

Dr.  Senter  was  born  at  Londonderry,  N.  H.,  about 
1753,  and  for  the  first  seventeen  years  of  his  life  he 
lived  on  his  father's  farm.  Up  to  that  time  he  had  no 
knowledge  of  books ;  but  meeting  with  a  few  stray 
volumes,  he  eagerly  devoured  their  contents,  sought 
means  to  obtain  a  further  supply,  and  soon  became  a 
giant  in  study.  He  first  studied  medicine  in  New- 
port, with  whom  it  is  not  certain ;  but  the  impression 
of  one  who  knew  him  is,  that  it  was  with  Dr.  Gray, 
who  practised  here  at  that  time.  Dr.  Senter  soon 
became  distinguished  in  his  profession,  in  Europe  as 
well  as  in  the  United  States,  and  for  many  years  he 
was  a  regular  correspondent  of  the  Royal  Society  of 
Medicine.  His  remains  were  interred  in  the  North 
Burying  Ground,  near  the  west  gate. 

On  the  right  hand,  turning  up  the  Parade,  we  enter 
Washington  Square.  On  the  left,  and  at  the  foot  of 
the  Mall,  there  is  a  granite  fountain  that  discharges 
pure  spring  water  at  all  seasons.  On  each  side  of  it 
is  a  cannon  planted  as  a  post.  These  were  taken  from 
the  British  privateer  Tartar,  captured  1779.  The 
triangular  piece  of  ground  containing  about  an  acre, 
enclosed  by  a  white  paling  and  studded  with  fine 
shade  trees,  is  the  Mall,  and  the  only  place  in  the 


28  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 

city  where  young  children  can  play  and  enjoy  the  air 
without  danger  from  passing  vehicles. 

On  the  south  side  of  Washington  Square,  a  few 
doors  from  Thames  Street,  stands  the  house  where 
Commodore  Perry  resided  after  the  battle  of  Lake 
Erie.  It  is  a  large  square  building,  erected  before 
the  Revolution  by  a  Mr.  Levy,  a  Jew,-  and  contains  a 
wide  hall,  fine  large  rooms,  and  is  elaborately  finished 
within.  A  view  of  it  is  given  at  the  head  of  this 
chapter.  The  house  is  at  present  owned  and  occu- 
pied by  Mrs,  Perry,  widow  of  the  Commodore. 

Oliver  Hazard  Perry,  son  of  Chris.  Raymond  Perry, 
was  born  in  Narragansett,  Aug.  23d,  1785,  and  when 
thirteen  years  of  age  he  entered  the  service  as  mid- 
shipman, on  board  the  sloop-of-war  General  Greene, 
commanded  at  that  time  by  his  father,  but  his  warrant 
was  not  dated  until  the  following  year.  On  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  Tripolitan  war,  he  was  ordered  to  join 
the  Adams,  commanded  by  Capt.  Campbell,  with 
whom  he  continued  until  Commodore  Preble  was 
superseded  by  Commodore  Morris,  when  he  returned 
in  the  frigate  New  York  to  the  United  States.  It 
was  during  this  cruise  that  he  was  promoted  to  an 
acting  lieutenancy.  In  1804  he  joined  the  squadron 
at  Malta,  where  he  remained  until  the  conclusion  of 
the  peace  with  Tripoli,  when  Com.  Rogers  shifted 
his  flag  from  the  Constitution  to  the  Essex,  and  took 
Perry  with  him  to  the  United  States  in  the  capacity 
of  second  lieutenant.  During  the  Embargo  he  was 
employed  in  building  seventeen  gunboats  at  New- 
port, Rhode  Islfind,  and  in  1810  he  superseded  Capt. 
Jones  in  the  command  of  the  United  States  schooner 


NEWPORT       ILLUSTRATED.  29 

Revenge,  attached  to  the  squadron  of  Com.  Rogers, 
lying  at  New  London.  The  schooner  was  lost  on 
Watch  Hill  Reef;  a  court  of  inquiry  investigated  all 
the  facts  of  the  case,  by  whom  the  conduct  of  the 
commanding  officer  was  highly  applauded.  In  1811 
Capt.  Perry  married  Miss  Mason,  daughter  of  the 
late  Dr.  Mason,  of  Newport.  On  the  breaking  out  of 
the  late  war  with  Great  Britain,  he  was  ordered  to 
take  command  of  the  United  States  flotilla  lying  at 
Newport;  and  in  February,  1813,  he  was  appointed, 
with  rank  of  master  commander,  to  the  command  of 
the  United  States  naval  force  on  Lake  Erie. 

For  a  truthful  and  eloquent  account  of  the  Battle 
of  Lake  Erie,  the  reader  is  referred  to  an  oration  de- 
livered at  the  celebration  of  the  fortieth  anniversary 
of  the  Tenth  of  September,  by  Hon.  Geo.  H.  Cal- 
vert.    • 

In  1819  Com.  Perry  was  dispatched  with  the  sloop- 
of-war  John  Adams  and  schooner  Nonsuch,  on  a  mis- 
sion to  Augostura,  the  seat  of  the  Insurgent  Govern- 
ment on  the  Main.  While  on  his  way  in  the  Non- 
such from  the  mouth  of  the  Orinoco,  to  join  the  John 
Adams  at  Trinidad,  he  was  taken  with  the  yellow 
fever,  and  expired  before  he  reached  the  latter  vessel. 
He  was  buried  at  Trinidad  with  funeral  honors,  and 
in  1826  the  remains  were  brought  to  Newport  in  the 
sloop-of-war  Lexington,  and  landed  at  Overing's 
wharf,  Nov.  27th.  The  following  Monday,  Dec.  4th, 
they  were  interred  with  honors  due  to  his  rank  and 
services.  Since  then  the  State  has  erected  a  hand- 
some monument  to  the  memory  of  the  departed  hero. 
It  stands  on  the  west  side  of  the  Island  Cemetery, 
3* 


30  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 

and  is  composed  of  a  shaft  of  granite  on  a  square 
pedestal  that  rises  from  a  grassy  mound.  On  the  four 
sides  of  the  pedestal  there  are  appropriate  inscrip- 
tions, and  at  the  base  rest  the  remains  of  Commodore 
Perry  and  three  of  his  children. 


THE    PERRY    MONUMENT. 

Passing  up  Washington  Square,  we  arrive  at  Zion 
Church,  a  modern  pile  with  a  Grecian  portico.  It  is 
an  Episcopal  Church,  and  in  the  most  flourishing 
condition.  But  recently  it  has  been  much  improved, 
by  extending  the  rear  of  the  building  so  as  to  admit 
of  a  wider  space  around  the  chancel,  and  a  conven- 
ient vestry  room  has  also  been  added.  The  rector  is 
Rev.  Benj.  Watson. 

We  enter  Clarke  Street  for  a  moment  to  examine 
the  Central  Baptist  Church.  The  building  was 
erected  by  the  Second  Congregational  Society  in 
1733  or  1735,  and  at  the  time  the  British  took  pos- 
session of  the  Island,  it  was  under  the  pastoral 
charge  of  Rev.  Dr.  Stiles,  afterward  President  of 
Yale  College. 

Dr.  Stiles  was  regularly  installed  pastor  of  the 
Church  Oct.,  1755,  and  he  immediately  entered  upon 
the  duties  of  his  office  with  that  ardor  and  industry 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED.  31 

which  characterized  all  his  undertakings.  Soon  after 
his  settlement  he  was  appointed  librarian  of  the  Red- 
wood Library,  and  his  interest  in  that  institution  was 
unabated  during  his  lifetime.  Within  its  quiet  walls 
he  spent  much  of  his  -jime,  and  through  his  instru- 
mentality the  collection  was  greatly  enlarged.  It 
was  his  proposition  that  a  collection  of  Theological 
books  be  made,  and,  aided  by  Rev.  Dr.  West,  of  Dart- 
mouth, he  commenced  the  laborious  undertaking. 
Many  of  the  books  purchased  at  his  suggestion  bear 
his  marginal  notes. 

The  life  of  Dr.  Stiles,  during  his  residence  on  this 
Island,  was  marked  by  the  most  exalted  love  of  reli- 
gion, unwearied  assiduity,  and  a  uniform  regularity 
in  all  the  walks  of  life.  His  memory  was  retentive, 
and  at  all  times  exhibited  an  extraordinary  degree  of 
activity.  He  was  ever  engaged  in  study,  and  early 
in  life  attained  a  high  reputation  for  his  learning, 
eloquence  and  piety.  He  was  a  constant  reader  of 
works  of  a  philosophical  character,  delighted  in  sci- 
entific experiments,  and  for  the  better  cultivation  of 
this  taste,  he  carried  on  an  extensive  correspondence 
with  learned  men  in  this  and  foreign  countries.  With 
Dr.  Franklin  he  was  intimate,  and  through  the  influ- 
ence of  the  latter  the  degree  of  D.  D.  was  conferred 
upon  him  by  the  University  of  Edinburgh.  As  a 
teacher  of  youth,  Dr.  Stiles  was  eminently  success- 
ful. He  instilled  into  their  minds  a  love  of  books, 
and  by  his  parental  care  won  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  all  who  were  intrusted  to  him. 

Dr.  Stiles  died  at  New  Haven,  May  12th,  1795, 
after  an  illness  of  only  a  few  days. 


32  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 

From  the  Newport  Mercury,  of  1767,  we  extract 
the  following,  as  giving  a  lively  picture  of  the  manner 
in  which  a  clergyman's  salary  was  paid  when  money 
was  scarce  and  only  to  be  obtained  by  the  few. 

M  Last  Wednesday  thirty-seven  young  ladies  of  this  town 
made  the  Rev.  Dr.  Stiles's  lady  a  visit.  They  sent  their 
wheels,  and  carried  flax  enough  for  a  moderate  day's  spinning, 
having  agreed  to  have  no  trial  who  should  spin  most,  but  to 
spin  good  fine  yarn,  and  as  much  as  they  could  without 
fatiguing  themselves  ;  and  accordingly  they  spent  the  day  in 
a  very  agreeable,  industrious  manner ;  and  at  sunset  made 
Mrs.  Stiles  a  present  of  about  one  hundred  15-knotted  skeins 
of  yarn  fine  enough  for  shirts  for  the  best  gentleman  in 
America. 

The  Church  edifice  suffered  severely  at  the  hands 
of  the  British.  All  the  pews  were  broken  up  and 
destroyed,  and  a  chimney  was  run  up  through  the 
centre  of  the  building.  After  the  evacuation  it  was 
restored,  and  was  used  for  public  worship.  The  last 
who  presided  over  the  society  was  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pat- 
ten, who  was  settled  over  the  Church  about  forty-six 
years.  After  his  death  the  society  joined  the  Con- 
gregational Church  in  Spring  Street,  and  the  Clarke 
Street  Church  gradually  fell  into  disuse,  until  finally 
it  was  closed  altogether.  A  few  years  since  it  was 
purchased  by  the  Baptists,  and  a  new  society — the 
Central  Baptist — was  formed.  The  building  has 
undergone  many  alterations,  and  all  for  the  better.  It 
has  been  lengthened  and  elevated,  the  whole  interior 
arrangement  changed,  and  the  exterior  has  also  been 
much  improved. 

The  society  is  under  the  charge  of  Rev.  Henry 
Jackson. 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED.  33 

The  next  building  south  of  the  Central  Baptist 
Church,  is  the  Armory  of  the  Newport  Artillery — a 
distinguished  corps  that  d  ates  from  1 74 1 .  This  ancient 
company  has  always  been  sustained  by  the  citizens 
of  Newport,  and  its  ranks  have  been  filled  by  father 
and  son  for  generations.  The  Newport  Artillery  is 
the  body  guard  of  the  Governor  of  the  State. 

At  the  corner  of  Mary  and  Clarke  Streets  stands  a 
venerable  building,  still  in  the  most  perfect  order,  and 
promising  to  resist  the  stormy  winters  of  another 
century.  Like  many  others  of  the  class  in  the  city, 
it  is  framed  of  oak,  based  on  a  heavy  foundation,  and 
elaborately  finished  within  and  without.  The  style, 
of  which  it  is  a  fair  specimen,  was  very  generally 
adopted  at  the  period  when  Newport  ranked  second 
only  to  Boston  in  commercial  prosperity.  In  those 
days  attention  was  paid  to  the  materials  employed  as 
well  as  to  the  general  appearance  of  an  edifice,  and 
the  merchants,  who  desired  to  build,  had  the  means  to 
secure  dwellings  substantial  in  construction,  elaborate 
in  all  the  nicer  portions,  and  correct  in  design.  Houses 
of  this  description,  at  the*present  time,  in  an  excellent 
state  of  preservation,  give  shelter  to  the  children  of 
the  fifth  and  sixth  generations. 

The  house  before  us  is  known  as  the  Vernon  Fam- 
ily Mansion,  and  was  owned  and  occupied  by  the  late 
Hon.  William  Yernon,  whose  public  services  require 
something  more  than  a  passing  notice. 

In  the  annals  of  Rhode  Island  there  are  names  of 
greater  note  than  that  of  William  Vernon ;  but  of  all 
who  entered  heart  and  soul  into  the  cause  of  Freedom, 
and  were  most  prominent  in  that  fearful  struggle  for 


34  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 


VERNON    FAMILY    MANSION. 


Independence,  not  one  is  more  deserving  of  the  high- 
est honors.  Had  Mr.  Vernon  taken  up  arms  in  the 
common  defense,  his  name  would  have  found  a  dis- 
tinguished place  on  the  page  of  history ;  but  his  store 
of  knowledge  was  of  infinitely  more  value  to  the 
country  than  personal  prowess.  His  labors  were  of 
the  Council ;  and  as  President  of  the  Eastern  Navy 
Board,  at  Boston,  his  energies  were  directed  to  the 
formation  of  a  Navy  that  should  battle  with  the  enemy 
on  the  ocean — a  gigantic  undertaking  for  that  day, 
and  one  that,  by  the  brilliancy  of  its  success,  entitles 
the  members  of  the  Board  to  lasting  gratitude. 

When  the  blow  fell  upon  the  Colonies,  and  every 
"  Son  of  Freedom  "  was  called  upon  to  take  an  active 
part  in  repelling  the  common  foe,  Mr.  Vernon  relin- 
quished all  private  claims,  and  at  once  brought  his 
extensive  knowledge  of  mercantile  and  marine  affairs 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED.  35 

to  the  aid  of  the  government ;  and  to  his  unflinching 
devotion  to  Liberty,  personal  sacrifices  and  extraordi- 
nary exertions,  America,  under  Providence,  owes 
much  of  her  success  upon  the  sea.  And  but  for  his 
systematic  arrangement  of  all  business  transactions, 
whether  of  a  public  or  private  nature,  the  world  could 
not  have  known  the  extent  of  his  usefulness,  or  the 
debt  of  gratitude  due  to  his  memory.  His  services 
for  years  were  given  to  the  country  without  charge, 
notwithstanding  his  large  estate,  acquired  through 
numerous  enterprises  previous  to  the  war,  was  greatly 
reduced  by  the  events  of  those  trying  times.  Of  these 
losses,  he  says  in  one  of  his  letters  under  date  of  Oct. 
10,  1778: 

"  If  we  establish  our  rights  and  liberty  upon  a  firm  and 
lasting  basis,  on  the  winding  up  of  this  bloody  contest,  I  am 
content ;  although  I  own  if  I  could  come  at  the  property  our 
enemies  are  possessed  of,  belonging  to  me,  it  would  increase 
the  pleasure.  1  do  assure  you  it  is  no  less  a  sum  than  twelve 
thousand  pounds  stg.,  at  least,  besides  my  real  estate  at  New- 
port ;  yet  I  can  with  truth  say  it  never  broke  my  rest  a  mo- 
ment." 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr.  Vernon  again  entered 
on  a  commercial  life,  and  he  continued  his  devotion 
to  it  almost  to  the  day  of  his  death,  which  event 
occurred  at  the  Mansion  House  Dec.  22d,  1806,  hav- 
ing nearly  closed  his  87th  year. 

During  his  lifetime,  Hon.  Win.  Vernon  was  asso- 
ciated with  the  most  eminent  men  in  the  country,  and 
was  in  familiar  correspondence  with  La  Fayette, 
Adams,  Viscount  Noaille,  Franklin,  and  other  men  of 
note  in  his  day.  He  was  a  great  friend  of  learning, 
and  was  appointed  President  of  the  Redwood  Library 
on  the  death  of  its  founder  and  first  President ;  and 


36  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED 

the  Second  Congregational  Church  owed  much  to  his 
liberality. 

During  the  time  the  British  were  in  possession  of 
the  Island,  the  Vernon  house,  in  common  with  others, 
was  occupied  by  troops,  and  it  was  only  on  the  evac- 
uation that  it  was  restored  to  the  rightful  owner. 
When  the  French  fleet  arrived,  it  was  made  the  head- 
quarters of  Count  Rochambeau,  who  here  entertained 
Washington  at  the  time  of  his  first  visit  to  Newport. 

Gen.  Washington,  on  that  occasion,  was  received 
at  the  ferry  in  Jamestown,  by  the  Admiral's  barge, 
and  conducted  on  board  his  ship.  Of  his  landing  in 
Newport  there  are  several  accounts — all  more  or  less 
incorrect.  The  following  was  given  to  us  by  an  eye- 
witness, who  still  lives  to  relate  the  details  of  an 
event  which  was  hailed  with  joy  by  the  inhabitants 
of  the  town. 

Washington  landed  at  Barney's  Ferry — the  corner 
of  the  Long  Wharf  and  Washington  Street.  The 
French  troops  formed  a  close  line,  three  deep  on 
either  side,  from  the  ferry  house  up  the  Long  Wharf 
and  Washington  Square  to  Clarke  Street,  where  it 
turned  at  a  right  angle  and  continued  to  Rochambeau's 
head-quarters.  The  following  night  the  town  was 
illuminated.  At  that  time  the  inhabitants  were  pov- 
erty stricken,  and  comparatively  few  were  able  to 
take  part  in  the  joyful  ceremony  ;  but  that  all  should 
share  in  the  honors  paid  so  distinguished  a  visitor, 
the  Town  Council  ordered  that  candles  should  be 
purchased,  and  given  to  all  who  were  too  much  dis- 
tressed, through  continued  losses,  to  purchase  for 
themselves  ;  so  that  every  house  should  show  a  light. 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED.  37 

The  procession  was  led  off  by  thirty  boys,  bearing 
candles  fixed  on  staffs,  followed  by  Gen.  Washington, 
Count  Rochambeau  and  the  other  officers,  their  aids 
and  the  procession  of  citizens.  The  night  was  clear, 
and  there  was  not  a  breath  to  fan  the  torches.  The 
brilliant  procession  marched  through  the  principal 
streets,  and  then  returned  to  the  head-quarters.  On 
reaching  the  door,  Washington  waited  on  the  step 
until  ail  the  officers  and  their  friends  had  entered  the 
house ;  then,  turning  to  the  boys  who  had  acted  as 
torch-bearers,  he  thanked  them  for  their  attention. 
This  was  glory  enough  for  the  young  patriots. 

An  anecdote  is  related  of  Washington  at  this  time. 
A  little  boy  had  heard  so  much  of  Washington,  that 
he  conceived  a  strong  desire  to  see  him.  His  father, 
to  gratify  his  wish,  lifted  him  in  his  arms  and  ap- 
proached an  open  window,  near  which  Washington 
stood,  whom  he  pointed  out.  The  child  was  amazed, 
and  exclaimed  aloud  :  "  Why,  father,  Gen.  Washing- 
ton is  a  man !"  It  reached  the  ear  of  the  hero,  who 
turned  round  and  said,  as  he  patted  the  boy  on  the 
head  :  "  Yes,  my  lad,  and  nothing  but  a  man." 

This  anecdote  has  been  repeatedly  told,  but  it  has 
not  been  properly  located  until  now. 
4 


CHAPTER   V 


THE    STATE    HOUSE    AND    PARADE. STUART'S    PICTURE    OF   WASH- 
INGTON.  JUDGE    LIGKTFOOT. 

EETURNING  to  Washington  Square,  and  crossing 
the  Mall,  we  approach  the 


STATE     HOUSE, 

a  building  of  fine  proportions,  and  one  worthy  of  note 
lor  the  taste  and  judgment  displayed  in  its  adornment. 
The  edifice  faces  the  Parade,  and  stands  on  a  high 
foundation  of  freestone.  It  is  built  of  brick,  with 
window  caps  and  other  projections  of  freestone.  Over 
the  front  there  is  a  fine  clock,*  recently  put  up  in 

*  This  clock  will  be  nightly  illuminated  as  soon  as  a  proper 
dial  can  be  fitted  to  it. 


NEWPORT      ILLUSTRATED.  39 

place  of  one  that  had  served  to  mark  the  hours  for 
seventy  years.  The  roof  is  surmounted  by  a  cupola, 
in  which  there  is  a  bell.  The  building  stands  in  an 
open  square,  and  we  may  enter  from  the  north,  south 
or  west,  by  a  lofty  flight  of  steps.  The  west  is  the 
principal  entrance.  From  these  steps  the  late  Major 
John  Handy  read  the  Declaration  of  Independence  on 
the  20th  of  July,  1776,  and  at  the  expiration  of  fifty 
years  he  read  it  again  from  the  same  place,  on  which 
occasion  the  steps  and  the  balcony  above  were  deco- 
rated with  wreaths  of  flowers. 

The  State  House  was  used  as  a  hospital  in  succes- 
sion by  the  British  and  French  troops.  After  the 
glass  was  destroyed,  the  windows  were  battened  up, 
leaving  only  a  small  opening,  with  a  slide,  for  air ; 
and  in  the  lower  room,  against  the  south  door,  the 
French  erected  an  altar,  where  the  services  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church  were  performed  for  the  sick 
and  dying. 

The  last  time  that  Washington  visited  Newport,  a 
dinner  was  given  in  honor  of  the  occasion.  The 
table  was  spread  the  entire  length  of  the  lower  floor 
of  the  State  House.  The  citizens  generally  contrib- 
uted to  the  entertainment,  freely  loaning  their  plate, 
and  nearly  every  family  could  contribute  a  portion. 
The  salvers,  dishes,  covers,  goblets,  pitchers,  and 
knives  and  forks,  were  all  of  silver,  and  these,  together 
with  a  profusion  of  cut  glass,  gave  the  table  an  ele- 
gant appearance. 

The  lower  floor  is  one  large  hall,  and  here,  when 
under  the  town  form  of  government,  all  voting  on 
public  questions  took  place.     It  is  still  used  on  occa- 


40  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 

sion  of  large  gatherings.  The  second  story  is  reached 
by  a  wide  flight  of  stairs.  The  north  room  is  used 
as  the  Representative  Hall ;  it  is  commodious  and 
well  arranged.  It  is  here  also  that  the  United  States 
Courts  hold  their  sessions.  The  south  room,  the 
Senate  Chamber,  is  small,  and  the  walls  are  too  dark 
to  appear  well. 

In  the  Senate  Chamber  there  is  a  fine  full  length 
portrait  of  Washington,  by  Stuart,  which  was  pre- 
sented to  the  town  by  that  great  painter.  The  por- 
trait is  one  of  Stuart's  finest  works,  and  is  highly 
valued  by  the  inhabitants.  To  preserve  it  from  injury, 
it  is  protected  by  a  glass  case. 

In  front  of  the  State  House  is  the  Parade,  a  large 
and  beautiful  square,  neatly  paved,  and  bordered  on 
the  north  by  a  row  of  fine  old  fashioned  houses,  and 
on  the  south  by  the  trees  in  the  Mall.  The  street 
leading  from  it  to  the  north  is  Broad  Street,  and  con- 
nects with  the  main  road.  Portions  of  Broad  Street 
are  shaded  by  a  fine  growth  of  elms,  which,  in  some 
places,  nearly  meet  overhead. 

The  house  opposite  the  State  House,  and  almost 
fronting  it,  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Samuel  Sterne's 
grocery,  was  once  the  residence  of  Judge  Lightfoot, 
one  of  the  most  distinguished  members  of  the  R.  I. 
Bar  in  early  colonial  times. 

Robert  Lightfoot  came  to  Newport  in  1716,  from 
England,  for  his  health,  and  was  so  charmed  with 
the  Island  that  he  designed  to  spend  the  remainder 
of  his  days  here.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Oxford,  and 
was  appointed  Judge  of  Vice-Admiralty  in  the  South- 
ern District  of  the  United   States,  under  George  II., 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED.  41 

an  office  which  he  resigned.  It  is  said  of  him  that 
he  was  an  accomplished  classical  scholar,  and  his 
intellectual  acquirements  were  very  extensive. 

Judge  Lightfoot  was  a  great  epicure ;  and  it  is 
related  of  him  by  his  biographer,  that  after  dinner  a 
few  glasses  of  wine  were  necessary,  and  then  followed 
the  "  feast  of  reason  and  the  flow  of  soul."  Disquisi- 
tions on  various  subjects,  historic  incidents  and  lively 
anecdotes  ,•  and  after  the  company  were  withdrawn 
from  the  table,  Hudibras  was  occasionally  introduced, 
and  Lightfoot  read  in  his  inimitable  style,  and  dis- 
coursed upon  the  times  and  character  delineated  in 
the  poem. 

Judge    Lightfoot    removed    to    Plainfield,    Conn., 
where  he  died.     His  daughter  survived  him  many 
years,  and  died  in  Newport. 
4* 


CHAPTEE   VI. 

CHURCH   STREET. RESIDENCE  OF  REV.  JAMES  HONYMAN. JAMES 

HONYMAN,  ESQ. MRS.  COWLEY's  ASSEMBLY  ROOM. BALL  GIV- 
EN BY  THE  FRENCH   OFFICERS. BALL  GIVEN  BY  THE  CITIZENS 

TO  WASHINGTON  AND  ROCHAMBEAU. BALL  GIVEN  TO  PRESI- 
DENT WASHINGTON TRINITY  CHURCH. FUNERAL  OF  CHEVA- 
LIER DE  TERNAY. RECTORS  OF  TRINITY  CHURCH. DESTRUC- 
TION OF  THE  ALTAR  PIECE  AFTER  THE  EVACUATION. — BISHOP 
BERKELEY. 

¥E  pass  up  Church  Street,  but  not  without  pausing 
to  note  the  objects  on  the  way. 

The  house  making  the  south  corner  of  Church  and 
Thames  Streets,  now  occupied  by  B.  H.  Tisdale  & 
Son,  was  owned  and  occupied  by  Rev.  James  Hony- 
man,  who  was  rector  of  Trinity  Church  so  early  as 
1704.  He  was  appointed  missionary,  and  sent  over 
to  this  station  by  the  "  Society  for  propagating  the 
Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,"  and  brought  with  him,  as 
a  present  to  the  church,  a  valuable  library  of  the  best 
theological  books  of  that  day.  Many  of  these  books 
are  still  in  the  possession  of  the  church.  Mr.  Hony- 
man  served  the  society  for  nearly  fifty  years,  and  was 
instrumental  of  much  good. 

The  house  at  that  day  presented  an  appearance 
similar  to  many  then  in  use.  The  windows  were 
glazed  with  diamond  panes  in  frames  of  lead,  and 
unique    window    casings,    and   the    whole    exterior, 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED.  43 

shaded  by  heavy  projections,  was  painted  a  bright 
red  color. 

James  Honyman,  Esq.,  son  of  the  rector,  resided 
with  his  father.  He  was  elevated  in  the  profession 
of  the  law  at  an  early  age,  and  held  many  important 
offices.  In  his  28th  year  he  was  elected  Attorney 
General  of  the  colony,  which  office  he  held  for  a 
number  of  years,  and  was  subsequently  King's  Attor- 
ney for  the  County  of  Newport.  Mr.  Honyman  was 
also  one  of  the  committee  on  the  Eastern  Boundary 
question,  and  was  one  of  the  counsel  who  argued  the 
case  in  behalf  of  Rhode  Island,  before  the  Commis- 
sioner appointed  by  the  Crown,  at  Providence,  in 
1741.  After  resigning  his  seat  in  the  Senate,  he  was 
appointed  Advocate  General  of  the  Court  of  Vice- 
Admiralty  in  the  colony,  but  on  the  breaking  out  of 
the  difficulties  with  the  mother  country,  he  delivered 
his  commission  to  the  Governor,  at  the  request  of  the 
Legislature,  to  be  lodged  in  the  Secretary's  office. 
As  a  speaker,  Mr.  Honyman  is  described  as  elabo- 
rate ;  in  deportment,  as  dignified ;  and  his  practice 
was  both  extensive  and  profitable. 

The  third  building  on  the  right — bearing  visibly 
the  marks  of  age  in  all  its  parts,  yet  straining,  as*it 
were,  to  keep  up  an  appearance  of  respectability, 
under  a  coat  of  whitewash — was  in  earlier  times  the 
assembly  room  of  Newport,  and  was  kept  by  Mrs. 
Cowley,  who,  a  hundred  years  ago,  was  known  to*  all 
the  region  round. 

In  the  second  story,  now  subdivided  into  numerous 
small  apartments,  one  can  trace  the  size  and  shape  of 
the  hall  which  was  then  enlivened   by  the  distin- 


44  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 

guished  at  home  and  abroad.  Here  Prince  De  Bro- 
glio,  Count  de  Segur,  Count  De  Vauhan,  and  many 
other  officers  attached  to  the  Count  De  Rochambeau's 
army,  gave  a  ball  to  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  of 
Newport.  One  who  was  present  makes  the  following 
record  of  the  brilliant  affair : 

"  The  room  was  ornamented  in  an  exceedingly  splendid 
manner,  and  by  the  judicious  arrangement  of  the  various  deco- 
rations, exhibited  a  sight  beautiful  beyond  expression,  and 
showed  the  great  taste  and  delicacy  of  Monsieur  De  Zoteux, 
one  of  the  aids  of  the  Baron  De  ViomeniL  A  superb  collation 
was  served,  and  the  ceremonies  of  the  evening  were  conducted 
with  so  much  propriety  and  elegance,  that  it  gave  the  highest 
satisfaction  to  all  who  had  the  honor  to  be  present." 

It  was  here  that  the  citizens  of  Newport  gave  a 
ball  in  honor  of  Washington  and  Rochambeau,  and 
on  this  occasion  Washington  opened  the  ball.  The 
dance  selected  by  his  partner  was  "  A  Successful 
Campaign,"  then  in  high  favor ;  and  the  French  offi- 
cers took  the  instruments  from  the  musicians,  and 
played  while  he  danced  the  first  figure  with  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  and  fascinating  of  Newport's  many 
belles.  These  sketches,  by  her  grandson,  were  pre- 
pared in  the  room  in  which  her  parents  entertained 
Washington  at  tea  on  the  day  of  the  ball. 

And  here,  when  peace  was  declared,  and  Washing- 
ton was  our  President,  another  entertainment  was 
made  for  him  by  the  inhabitants  ;  at  which  time  the 
hall  was  dressed  with  great  taste,  and  the  dancing 
was  opened  with  Washington's  March. 

Passing  up  the  street  a  short  distance,  we  enter 
the  yard  of  Trinity  Church.  Here  every  spot  is 
planted  with  graves  ;  the  very  walks  and  steps  sepul- 


TRINITY      CHURCH. 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED.  45 

cher  the  dead.  Many  who  took  an  active  part  in 
colonial  times,  here  find  a  common  resting-place. 
The  first  grave  as  we  enter,  on  the  left,  is  that  of 
Nathaniel  Kay,  Esq.,  Collector  of  the  King's  Customs, 
who  in  his  will  handsomely  endowed  the  church. 
Here  the  remains  of  the  Chevalier  De  Fayelle,  aid- 
de-camp  to  La  Fayette,  found  a  resting-place  ;  here 
Bishop  Berkeley  resigned  an  infant  daughter  to  the 
earth ;  and  there,  by  the  church*  side,  covered  by  a 
few  boards  to  preserve  it  from  further  injury,  stands  a 
monument  erected  at  the  charge  of  royalty  over  the 
remains  of  the  Chevalier  De  Ternay.  One  who  still 
lives  to  converse  upon  the  past,  well  remembers  the 
pageant  on  the  burial  of  that  lamented  soldier.  He 
was  in  the  chamber  where  De  Ternay  died,  when 
the  body  was  placed  in  the  coffin,  and  followed  the 
cortege — the  most  imposing  ever  witnessed  in  these 
streets— to  the  grave,  where  the  priests,  nine  in  num- 
ber, chanted  the  funeral  service,  and  the  sailors  who 
bore  the  corse  slowly  resigned  it  to  the  earth. 

The  monument  is  composed  of  a  large,  and  once 
beautiful,  slab  of  Egyptian  marble.  The  inscription 
was  in  gold.  It  was  designed  for  the  interior  of  the 
church,  but  as  no  suitable  place  could  be  found  for  it 
within  the  walls,  it  was  placed  nearly  over  the  grave, 
where  it  has  gradually  cracked  and  fallen  away. 

The  venerable  church  now  numbers  one  hundred 
and  twenty-eight  years,  and  occupies  the  site  of  the 
first  Episcopal  church  erected  on  the  Island.  We 
have  not  room  for  its  long  list  of  rectors,  and  to  speak 
of  their  good  deeds  would  be  to  fill  a  volume  ;  but  we 
cannot  refrain  from  making  mention  here  of  one  or 


46  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 

two  who  were  prominent  in  their  day,  and  whose 
names  will  long  be  remembered  in  Rhode  Island. 

Mr.  Honyman,  the  first  rector,  was  instrumental  in 
building  the  present  edifice.  He  labored  long  and 
faithfully,  with  a  salary  cf  but  £10  a  year.  In  1750 
he  was  gathered  to  his  fathers,  and  on  the  west  side 
of  the  yard  his  tombstone  still  may  be  seen. 

It  was  during  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Honyman,  that 
Dean  Berkeley  visited  Newport.  The  Dean  often 
officiated  at  Trinity  Church.  He  was  deeply  inter- 
ested in  the  society,  and  on  his  return  to  Dublin,  in 
1733,  he  presented  the  church  with  an  organ,  some 
account  of  which  will  be  found  on  another  page. 

Rev.  Marmaduke  Brown,  prior  to  the  Revolution, 
also  officiated  at  this  church  with  much  success.  He 
was  a  native  of  Ireland,  a  man  esteemed  for  his  tal- 
ents, learning  and  religion ;  and  after  his  death,  in 
1771,  his  son,  born  in  Rhode  Island,  and  then  Senior 
Fellow  of  Trinity  College,  Dublin,  caused  the  monu- 
ment to  be  erected  on  the  north  side  of  the  chancel 
to  the  memory  of  his  father  and  mother. 

During  the  close  of  the  last,  and  the  opening  of  the 
present,  century,  Rev.  Theodore  Dehon,  afterward 
Bishop  of  South  Carolina,  was  at  the  head  of  the 
society.  It  was  during  his  ministry  that  the  affairs 
of  the  church  were  placed  in  a  prosperous  state  ;  and 
of  the  harmony  and  Christian  fellowship  that  prevailed 
we  have  an  evidence  in  the  fund  of  ten  thousand 
dollars,  then  raised  in  the  society  and  invested,  the 
interest  to  be  applied  to  the  payment  of  the  minister's 
salary. 

In  later  times,  Rev.  Salmon  Wheaton  presided  over 


NEWPORT       ILLUSTRATED.  47 

the  society  a  period  of  thirty  years,  followed  by  Rev. 

Dr.  Vinton,  now  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  Rev.  D.  R. 

Brewer,  who  is  the  minister  at  the  present  time. 

The  late   Major  Bull  remarks  : 

"  A  few  days  after  the  British  left  Newport,  some  young  men 
of  the  town,  and  among  them  two  American  officers,  entered 
the  church  and  despoiled  it  of  the  altar-piece,  consisting  of  the 
King's  arms,  the  lion  and  the  unicorn.  They  were  highly  or- 
namental, and  were  placed  against  the  great  east  window. 
After  trampling  them  under  foot,  they  were  carried  to  the  North 
Battery,  and  set  up  for  a  target  to  fire  at.  The  other  emblems 
of  royalty  being  out  of  reach,  were  suffered  to  remain.  They 
consist  of  one  royal  crown  on  the  spire,  and  another  on  the  top 
of  the  organ.  However  little  the  present  generation  may  care 
for  baubles  of  that  kind,  still,  the  antiquity  of  these  ornaments 
and  the  propriety  of  them  in  the  day  when  they  were  put  up, 
make  them  still  interesting — as  indicating,  at  the  first  view,  to 
the  stranger,  the  antiquity  of  the  structure  which,  contained 
them — and  splendid  for  the  days  and  country  in  which  it  was 
erected.  This  structure  has  never  been  subjected  to  the  hand 
of  modern  vandalism.  The  interior  of  the  church  is  now  the 
same  as  when  Dean  Berkeley  preached  in  it,  with  the  exception 
of  the  longitudinal  enlargement,  and  the  pulpit  is  now  the 
only  one  in  America  ever  graced  by  the  occupancy  of  that  dis- 
tinguished prelate.  The  church  was  at  that  time  we  are  speak- 
ing of  without  a  minister.  As  it  had  been  nursed  by  the  High 
Church  party  in  England,  it  was  unpopular  with  the  mass  of 
the  people,  who  were  writhing  under  the  scourge  inflicted  by 
that  very  party.  The  church  edifice,  too,  had  been  spared  by 
those  invaders  who  worshipped  in  it,  while  the  other  places  in 
the  town  they  had  desecrated — by  converting  them  into  riding 
schools  or  hospitals — and  every  part  of  them  but  the  shells 
they  had  demolished." 

Passing  up  Church  Street,  we  come  to  the  Masonic 
Lodge,  a  large  building,  situated  at  the  corner  of  School 
Street,  and  facing  the  west.  It  was  erected  in  1804. 
The  hall  on  the  lower  floor  is  used  for  exhibitions, 
balls  and  other  amusements  ;  and  one  of  the  side 
rooms  is  occupied  by  the  Newport  Historical  Society, 
as  a  place  of  deposit  for  their  collections. 

Turning  off  at  this  point,  and  passing  through  School 
Street  to  the  corner  of  Mary  Street,  we  have  Trinity 


48  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 

Church  school-house  on  the  one  hand,  and  on  the 
other  the  house  in  which  the  late  William  Ellery 
Channing,  Esq.,  was  born  in  1751. 

Win.  E.  Channing  was  one  of  the  earliest  Attorney- 
Generals  of  Rhode  Island.  He  was  a  delegate  to 
the  Continental  Congress,  an  opponent  of  the  paper 
money  party,  and  a  devoted  Federalist.  Well  read  in 
the  law,  and  interested  in  politics,  he  rose  to  distin- 
guished eminence,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  he 
held  the  offices  of  General  and  District  Attorney. 

The  late  Hon.  Asher  Robins  says  of  Mr.  Channing, 
in  a  communication  to  his  biographer : 

"His  manner  of  speaking  at  the  bar  was  rapid,  vehement 
and  impressive  ;  never  studied  nor  exactly  methodical  in  his 
pleadings  ;  but  he  always  came  well  prepared  as  to  matter  and 
authority.  He  had  an  extensive  practice,  attended  all  the 
Courts  of  the  State  regularly,  and  was  considered  for  several 
years  before  his  death  as  the  leading  counsel  of  the  State.  He 
died,  I  think,  at  about  forty,  and  after  a  short  illness." 

And  his  domestic  traits  are  thus  recorded  by  his 

father-in-law,  the  late  Hon.  Win.  Ellery: 

11  The  law  of  kindness  and  benevolence  was  in  his  heart  and 
on  his  tongue.  The  persons  employed  by  him  as  domestics, 
and  in  other  services,  he  treated  with  great  humanity,  and 
rewarded  with  a  liberal  punctuality.  He  was  an  obedient  and 
respectful  son,  and  a  most  affectionate  brother  and  friend.  To 
the  poor  he  was  compassionate.  The  needy  never  turned  away 
from  his  house  empty.  His  table  and  his  purse  were  always 
open  to  their  wants,  and  his  munificence  was  ever  accompa- 
nied with  a  sweetness  in  the  manner,  which  doubled  the  obli- 
gation of  gratitude." 

Returning  to  Church  Street,  and  a  short  distance 
beyond  Masonic  Hall,  we  reach  a  small  Gothic  church, 
dedicated  to  the  Episcopal  service,  and  under  the 
charge  of  Rev.  D.  R.  Brewer,  of  Trinity  Church.  It 
is  only  opened  in  summer,  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  visitors  during  the  "  season,"  and  its  seats  are  free. 


CHAPTER   VII. 


EASTON  S     BEACH. BATHING. PURGATORY. SACHUEST      POINT. 

CAPTURE    OF  THE  PIGOT    BY  MAJOR    TALBOT. TAUTOG  FISH- 
ING.  BASS    FISHING. 


;^r*3? 


HIS  is  the  season  to 
enjoy  the  walks  along 
the  cliffs  and  beaches. 
Long  absent  friends 
have  returned  to  hear 
again  the  surf  break- 
ing on  the  shore,  and 
strangers,too,by  thou- 
sands are  here  so- 
journing, who  are  pre- 


pared to  participate  in  all  that  has  the  charm  of  novelty 
and  to  embrace  every  means  calculated  to  relax  the 
mind  and  strengthen  the  body.  Let  us,  with  these, 
stroll  along  the  shore  for  an  hour,  and  it  may  be  that 
we  shall  derive  both  pleasure  and  profit  from  the 
walk. 

We  are  on  Easton's  Beach,  a  spot  that  Berkeley  and 
Allston  and  Malbone  and  Channing  loved  to  visit. 
Here  they  each,  in  turn,  came  for  study  and  medita- 
tion, undisturbed  save  by  the  music  of  the  tumbling 
surf.  Of  its  influence  over  his  mind,  Channing  thus 
made  record : 

5 


50  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 

"  In  this  town  I  pursued  for  a  time  my  studies  of  theology. 
I  had  no  professor  or  teacher  to  guide  me  ;  but  I  had  two  noble 
places  of  study.  One  was  yonder  beautiful  edifice,  now  so 
frequented  and  so  useful  as  a  public  library,  then  so  deserted 
that  1  spent  day  after  day,  and  sometimes  week  after  week, 
amidst  its  dusty  volumes  without  interruption  from  a  single 
visitor.  The  other  place  was  yonder  beach,  the  roar  of  which 
has  so  often  mingled  with  the  worship  of  this  place,  my  daily 
resort,  dear  to  me  in  the  sunshine,  still  more  attractive  in  the 
storm.  Seldom  do  I  visit  it  now  without  thinking  of  the  work, 
which  there,  in  the  sight  of  that  beauty,  in  the  sound  of  those 
waves,  was  carried  on  in  my  soul.  No  spot  on  earth  has  helped 
to  form  me  so  much  as  that  beach.  There  I  lifted  up  my  voice 
in  praise  amidst  the  tempest.  There,  softened  by  beauty,  I 
poured  out  my  thanksgiving  and  contrite  confessions.  There, 
in  reverential  sympathy  with  the  mighty  power  around  me,  I 
became  concious  of  power  within.  There,  struggling  thoughts 
and  emotions  broke  forth,  as  if  moved  to  ntterance  by  nature's 
eloquence  of  the  winds  and  waves.  There,  began  a  happiness 
surpassing  all  worldly  pleasure,  all  gifts  of  fortune,  the  happi- 
ness of  communing  with  the  works  of  God." 

Tuckerman,  in  a  volume  of  poems,  also  pays  a 
tribute  to  Newport  beach  : 

"  Thy  breath,  majestic  Sea,  was  native  air, 
And  thy  cool  spray,  like  Nature's  baptism,  fell 
Upon  my  brow,  while  thy  hoarse  summons  called 
My  childhood's  fancy  into  wonder's  realm. 
Thy  boundless  azure  in  youth's  landscape  shone 
Like  a  vast  talisman,  that  oft  awoke 
Visions  of  distant  climes,  from  weary  round 
Of  irksome  life  to  set  my  spirit  free  ; 
And  hence,  whene'er  I  greet  thy  face  anew, 
Familiar  tenderness  and  awe  return 
At  the  wild  conjuration  ; — fondest  hopes, 
And  penitential  tears  and  high  resolves 
Are  born  of  musing  by  the  solemn  deep. 

"  Then  here,  enfranchised  by  the  voice  of  God, 
0,  ponder  not,  with  microscopic  eye, 
What  is  adjacent,  limited  and  fixed  ; 
But,  with  high  faith  gaze  forth,  and  let  thy  thought 
With  the  illimitable  scene  expand, 
Until  the  bond  of  circumstance  is  rent, 
And  personal  griefs  are  lost  in  visions  wide 
Of  an  eternal  future !     Far  away 


:    ■V8.W. 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED.  51 

Where  looms  yon  sail,  that,  like  a  curlew's  wing, 
Prints  the  gray  sky,  are  moored  enchanted  isles 
Of  unimagined  beauty,  with  soft  airs 
And  luscious  fruitage  and  unclouded  stars  ; 
Where  every  breeze  wafts  music,  every  path 
By  flowers  o'erhung,  leads  to  a  home  of  love, 
And  every  life  is  glorified  with  dreams : 
And  thus  beyond  thy  present  destiny, 
Beyond  the  inlet  where  the  waves  of  Time 
Fret  at  their  barren  marge,  there  spreads  a  sea 
More  free  and  tranquil,  where  the  isles  of  peace 
Shall  yield  thy  highest  aspiration  scope, 
And  every  sympathy  response  divine." 

During  the  summer  months,  the  beach  is  daily  vis- 
ited by  hundreds,  who  array  themselves  in  fancy 
costumes,  and  eagerly  plunge  into  the  tumbling  surf. 
Gayly  appareled  beaux  and  belles  vie  in  fantastic 
tricks,  making  the  air  ring  with  their  careless  laugh  ; 
but  the  music  of  their  merry  voices  and  the  roaring 
of  the  surf  are  occasionally  made  to  play  the  second 
part  to  the  screams  of  some  timid  girl,  who  would 
fain  buffet  with  the  waves,  did  her  courage  admit. 
She  is  vanquished  at  the  outset,  and  the  first  wave 
that  caresses  her  tiny  feet  banishes  for  ever  her  small 
stock  of  courage  ;  while  her  companions  fearlessly 
ride  the  billows'  snowy  crest ;  now  floating  lightly  on 
the  ocean's  heaving  bosom ;  now  diving  beneath  the 
surface,  in  search  of  old  Neptune's  sparkling  treasures. 
Nought  will  the  swimmer  there  find,  save  sand  smooth 
and  white,  or  perchance  a  few  shells  fringed  with 
delicate  coral  and  many-colored  moss. 

Here,  as  well  as  on  Sachuest  Beach,  one  often 
sees  fishermen  drawing  their  nets  for  menhaden  and 
blue  fish  or  horse  mackerel.     The  latter  are  often 


52 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED 


taken  in  great  abundance  at  the  east  end  of  Sachuest 
Beach. 

Passing  over  the  Beach  and  the  creek  connecting 
Easton's  Pond  with  the  ocean,  we  cross  the  neck  of 
land  that  divides  the  two  beaches,  and  pause  upon 
the  bold  line  of  rocks  that  face  the  shore.  These 
rocks,  called  the  Bluff,  are  composed  of  gray  wacke, 
and  many  of  them  have  been  displaced  from  their 
original  bed  by  some  mighty  convulsion  of  nature. 


BLUFF    NEAR    PURGATORY, 

Near  the  northern  extremity  of  the  Bluff,  and  at  the 
highest  point,  there  is  a  dark  chasm,  known  as  Pur- 
gatory. The  general  impression  is  that  the  rock  at 
this  point  was  divided  by  some  sudden  upheaving  of 
the  earth,  though  President  Hitchcock  has  expressed 
the  opinion  that  it  resulted  from  the  washing  of  the 


NEWPORT      ILLUSTRATED.  53 

ocean  at  an  early  period  in  the  world's  history,  at 
which  time  a  larger  portion  of  the  earth  was  submerg- 
ed, and  the  less  enduring  portions  of  the  rock  gave 
way  under  the  action  of  the  sea.  Be  this  as  it  may, 
it  requires  strong  nerves  to  approach  the  brink  and 
look  down  into  the  yawning  abyss.  By  actual  measure- 
ment, the  chasm  is  one  hundred  and  sixty  feet  in  length ; 
width  at  top,  from  eight  to  fourteen  feet ;  width  at. 
bottom,  from  two  to  twenty-four  feet;  depth  at  the  outer 
edge,  fifty  feet;  depth  of  water  at  low  tide,  ten  feet. 

One  side  of  Purgatory  is  much  higher  than  the 
other,  and  a  few  persons  have  been  so  daring  as  to 
leap  across  it.  Two  legends  are  connected  with 
Purgatory.  One  is  that  the  Devil  once  rewarded  a 
sinning  squaw  for  her  murderous  deeds,  by  throwing 
her  down  into  the  gulf.  The  foot-prints  of  His  Ma- 
jesty are  still  visible  in  the  rock,  and  some  go  so  far 
as  to  point  out  the  spots  of  her  blood  along  the  bluff. 
The  other  story  is  of  a  maiden  who  put  the  affections 
of  her  lover  to  the  test,  by  requiring  him  to  leap 
across  the  opening  in  the  rock  from  the  point  where 
they  stood ;  declaring  that  if  he  did  not  confirm  his 
vows  of  love  by  this  act,  he  should  never  wed  her. 
The  youth,  perceiving  that  she  was  really  in  earnest, 
boldly  sprang  to  the  opposite  side ;  then  bowing  to 
the  heartless  girl,  and  bidding  her  a  final  adieu,  he 
left  her  on  the  rock  speechless  from  remorse. 

Passing  the  second  beach,  we  are  on  Sachuest 
Point,  the  extreme  south-east  of  the  Island.  The 
waters  on  the  left  hand  flow  from  Mount  Hope  Bay, 
and  make  the  East  River. 

Here  a  bold  scene  was  witnessed  in  1778.     The 
5* 


54  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 

British  were  then  in  possession  of  the  southern  portion 
of  the  Island,  and  they  desired  to  cut  off  all  communica- 
tion by  sea  with  other  portions  of  the  State.  To 
effect  this,  a  galley  was  anchored  directly  in  the  pas- 
sage before  us,  armed  with  ten  eighteen-pounders, 
besides  ten  swivels.  In  addition  to  this  heavy  arma- 
ment, she  was  protected  by  a  strong  boarding  netting, 
and  manned  by  a  crew  of  forty-five  men,  under  Lieut. 
Dudley.  She  was  called  the  Pigot.  In  her  position 
she  could  do  much  injury  to  the  American  forces  by 
intercepting  supplies ;  and  at  last  complaints  became 
so  general,  that  Major  Talbot  conceived  the  bold 
project  of  capturing  her.  To  insure  success,  he  ob- 
tained a  small  sloop,  called  the  Hawk,  equipped  her 
with  two  three-pounders  and  sixty  picked  men  from 
the  various  regiments  quartered  in  Providence.  The 
number  was  subsequently  increased  to  seventy-five. 
After  passing  the  fort  at  Bristol  Ferry  without  receiv- 
ing any  injury  from  the  shots  fired  at  him,  he  anchored 
in  Mount  Hope  Bay,  where  he  left  the  vessel  in 
charge  of  Lieut.  Baker,  landed  and  rode  down  the 
shore  to  this  point.  Here  he  carefully  inspected  the 
galley.  He  found  her  armed  at  all  points,  but  the 
result  of  his  inspection  was  exhibited  in  a  stronger 
determination  to  attack  her,  which  resolution  he  car- 
ried into  effect  on  a  dark  night,  Nov.  4th,  1778.  The 
attack  is  thus  described  by  the  biographer  of  Talbot  :* 

"  As  the  sloop  dropped  silently  down  the  river,  they  lashed 
a  kedge-anchor  to  the  jib-boom,  to  tear,  and  at  the  same  time 
grapple  with  the  nettings  of  the  Pigot.  They  drifted  by  the 
Fogland   fort   under   bare   poles,   without  being   discovered, 

*  "  Life  of  Talbot,"  by  Henry  T.  Tuckerman. 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED.  55 

although  they  saw  the  sentinel  each  time  he  passed  the  bar- 
rack light.  This  was  a  most  auspicious  circumstance,  for  one 
shot  would  have  given  an  alarm  to  the  galley.  All  hands 
being  ready  for  action,  they  again  hoisted  sail :  but  fearing 
they  should  run  astray  of  their  object  in  the  darkness,  soon 
cast  anchor  once  more,  lowered  a  boat,  and  went  in  search  of 
her  with  muffled  oars.  They  had  proceeded  but  a  few  rods 
when  her  sombre  form  was  seen  rising  in  the  gloom ;  they 
noted  how  she  rode  with  the  wind  and  tide,  returned  to  the 
Hawk,  and  directed  her  course  accordingly.  Being  soon  per- 
ceived by  the  watch  on  the  deck  of  the  galley,  they  were 
repeatedly  hailed,  but  made  no  answer;  when  nearly  along- 
side, a  volley  of  musketry  was  discharged  at  them  ;  but  before 
the  Pigot  could  fire  one  gun,  the  jib-boom  of  the  Hawk  had 
torn  its  way  through  the  nettings,  and  grappled  the  foreshrouds; 
while  their  salute  had  been  amply  returned,  and  Lieut.  Helm, 
followed  by  his  detachment,  mounted  the  deck  sword  in  hand. 
With  shouts,  the  crew  of  the  Hawk  drove  every  man  into  the 
hold  of  the  galley,  except  the  commander,  who  fought  despe- 
rately in  his  ;jhirt  and  drawers,  until  convinced  that  resistance 
was  useless.  When  informed,  however,  that  he  was  van- 
quished by  a  little  sloop,  he  wept  over  his  inevitable  disgrace, 
and  Major  Talbot  in  vain  offered  him  the  condolence  which, 
as  a  generous  victor,  he  felt  at  his  mortification.  This  brilliant 
coup  de  main  was  effected  without  a  loss  on  either  side." 

On  the  rocks  that  surround  Sachuest  Point,  we  find 
the  fisherman  in  his  element.  Let  us  watch  his 
sports  for  a  moment. 

The  off  rocks,  at  the  northern  extremity,  are  the 
Flints.  There  are  fishers  there,  but  the  tide  is  near 
the  flood,  "and  to  get  to  them  water  knee  deep  must 
be  passed.  The  Shelf  is  farther  to  the  south,  and 
we  already  see  enough  to  insure  pleasure  for  the 
walk.  A  dozen  or  more  are  spread  over  the  rock, 
some  with  poles,  others  with  hand-lines,  and  all  intent 
on  securing  a  goodly  bunch  of  tautog.  One  sees  at 
a  glance  that  they  are  amateurs.  With  them  there  is 
an  old  fisherman  cutting  bait,  who,  like  an  old  hen 
scratching  for  a  large  brood,  has  as  much  as  he  can 


56  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 

attend  to.  To  cut  a  lobster  into  suitable  portions  for 
bait,  is  but  the  task  of  a  few  moments  ;  but  he  is  con- 
stantly called  from  this  necessary  work,  to  teach  the 
less  expert  how  to  tie  the  tempting  morsel  to  the  hook, 
to  direct  one  where  to  throw,  and  at  the  same  time 
unhook  a  fish  caught  by  another.  Observe,  all  the 
fish  taken  are  small ;  the  old  fisherman  will  give  you 
as  a  reason  for  this,  that  there  are  too  many  sinkers 
in  the  water  to  insure  the  catching  of  a  "  white 
chin." 

At  Checker  Beach,  there  are  but  three  fishing,  and 
these  form  one  party.  Matters  here  are  conducted 
in  a  manner  wholly  different.  These  sportsmen  are 
after  Bass.  There  is  no  running  about  the  rocks,  no 
unnecessary  noise  and  confusion,  and  but  one  line  is 
brought  into  play.  Draw  near,  but  keep  low  upon 
the  rocks,  and  watch  attentively  their  proceedings. 
The  one  in  the  rear  has  a  basket  of  fresh  menhaden 
near  him ;  with  a  bait-board  and  a  sharp  knife  he 
scales  these  oily  fish,  taking  a  bait  from  each  side, 
rejecting  the  head,  and  cutting  the  remainder  into  fine 
pieces.  The  small  particles  are  then  thrown  into  the 
water  at  intervals,  and  the  scent  spreads  far  and  near, 
drawing  the  fish  around  the  rock.  Eighteen  or  twenty 
fathoms  of  line  are  coiled  on  the  rock,  and  there  is 
nearly  as  much  more  on  the  reel,  ready  in  case  a  large 
bass  is  hooked.  The  hook  is  baited  and  skilfully  cast 
just  upon  the  edge  of  the  white  water,  ancf  the  sports- 
man, lost  to  everything  but  the  excitement  of  the 
moment,  watches  carefully  his  line  and  every  move- 
ment in  the  water ;  his  foot  advanced,  and  his  hand 
raised  to  hook  the  fish  that  may  chance  to  take  his 


NEWPORT      ILLUSTRATED.  57 

bait.  The  line  is  suddenly  drawn  out,  and  with  a 
rapid  movement,  the  hook  is  buried  in  the  now 
frightened  fish — a  horse-mackerel,  full  of  life  and 
game  to  the  last.  The  hook  is  again  baited,  and,  with 
a  few  small  lumps,  cast  into  the  boiling  surge  ;  a  huge 
bass  has  his  eye  upon  it,  and  as  it  strikes  the  water, 
seizes  it  with  a  force  that  makes  the  line  sing.  The 
sportsman  is  prepared  for  the  contest  that  he  knows 
must  follow  ;  his  chum  has  already  cleared  the  reserve 
line,  and  away  dashes  the  fish,  now  below  the  sur- 
face, and  again  the  rays  of  the  sun  flash  from  his 
sides  as  he  breaks  water ;  but  the  strain  is  more  than 
he  can  endure.  He  turns,  and  the  line  is  gathered 
in  at  a  rate  that  keeps  it  always  bearing  on  his  mouth, 
which  is  thus  forced  open ;  but  again  he  turns,  and 
again  the  line  runs  through  the  fingers  at  a  speed 
that  often  cuts  into  the  flesh,  and  then  the  same  com- 
motion on  the  surface  ;  until,  at  length,  exhausted, 
nearly  drowned,  and  after  a  few  plunges,  a  few  inef- 
fectual attempts  to  make  another  run,  he  is  drawn 
slowly  to  the  rock,  and  thence  dragged  to  a  place  of 
safety  by  means  of  a  gaff*.  The  hook  is  once  more 
baited,  a  few  more  lumps  are  thrown  in,  and  a  fresh 
hand  takes  the  stand.  Wishing  him  "  good  luck," 
we  pass  on. 

At  Hobson's  Hole  the  scene  is  changed.  Here 
are  two  men  in  quiet  possession  of  the  rock ;  they 
nave  baited  carefully  for  some  time,  and  are  at  last 
rewarded  by  the  sight  of  bass  in  the  water.  Slowly 
they  have  kept  but  one  line  going,  and  have  already 
taken  several  fish,  when  the  peace  is  broken  by  the 
appearance  of  a  boat  manned  by  one  fisherman,  who 


58  NEWPORT      ILLUSTRATED. 

has  the  meanness  to  drop  his  grapnel  on  the  very  spot 
where  they  are  throwing ;  and  see,  he  is  preparing 
to  avail  himself  of  their  morning's  work.  But  listen  ! 
he  is  hailed  and  warned  off;  threats  he  laughs  at, 
and  throws  in  his  hook  ;  at  demonstrations  from  the 
shore  party  he  smiles,  and  perhaps  chuckles,  as  he 
contemplates  their  discontented  looks.  His  triumph 
is  but  short,  for  those  on  the  rock  gather  from  the  beach 
on  the  left,  a  basket  of  smooth  stones.  The  boatman 
laughs  again,  but  a  missile  or  two  brings  the  laugh 
out  on  the  other  side  of  his  mouth  ;  and  in  a  few  min- 
utes he  becomes  seriously  alarmed  for  his  safety. 
He  begs  lustily ;  stones  are  the  missiles  from  the 
shore  ;  he  raises  both  hands  imploringly ;  showers  of 
stones  fall  thick  and  fast  on  his  devoted  head ;  he 
endeavors  to  screen  himself  under  the  gunwale  of  the 
boat ;  stones  bring  him  on  his  feet  again ;  he  looks 
to  the  spectators  to  intercede ;  laughter  and  stones 
greet  him ;  he  swears  ;  stones  are  the  echoes  ;  he 
asks  time  ;  stones  are  dealt  out  to  him ;  he  seizes  his 
oars  to  indicate  that  he  is  off;  stones  follow  in  his 
wake  ;  and  when  he  is  beyond  the  reach  of  further 
attacks,  the  fishing  is  resumed  from  the  rocks,  and 
the  spectators,  having  enjoyed  this  amusing  end  to 
the  day's  sport,  turn  homeward.  The  next  day  the 
combatants  meet,  and  they  too  enjoy  a  laugh. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 


OLD    STONE    MILL. 


N  the  centre  of  an  open  lot, 
bounded  by  Pelham,  Belie- 
fs vue,  Mill  and  George  Sts., 
stands    a   venerable    pile, 
known  to  the  world  as  the 
"Old     Stone     Mill,"     but 
sometimes  it  is  spoken  of 
as   the    "  Newport    Ruin '' 
and  the   "  Round   Tower." 
The    stranger  asks  "  when 
and  by  whom  was  it  built,"and  from  one 
I  he  receives  an  answer  that  carries  the 
mind  back  to  the   days  when  the  Viking  rover, 

"  Wandering  from  his  region  frozen, 
On  Vineland's  shores  delighted  once  to  roam.'' 

And  by  another  he  is  told  that 

"  This  is  the  "  Old  Mill  "  of  which  they  tell  lies." 

The  origin  and  early  history  of  the  "  Old  Mill "  is 
shrouded  in  mystery;  and  this  fact,  coupled  with  its 
peculiar  construction  and  isolated  position,  has  led  to 
many  fruitless  conjectures.  The  antiquarian  claims 
for  it  the  honor  of  having  afforded  a  secure  shelter  to 
the   Norsemen,  who,  they  say,  built  it  as  a  lookout 


60  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 


OLD  STONE  MILL. 


and  a  tower  of  defense.  The  matter-of-fact  observers 
deny  it  this  enviable  renown,  and  maintain  that  it  is 
neither  more  nor  less  than  an  "  Old  Mill,"  built  by 
Gov.  Benedict  Arnold,  the  first  Charter  Governor  of 
the  Colony,  who  owned  the  property  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  and  of  it  makes  mention  in  his  will,  calling 
it  "  my  stone  built  Wind  Mill." 

The  reader  who  would  possess  all  of  interest  that 
has  been  written  on  this  subject,  is  referred  to  a  pam- 
phlet entitled  "The  Controversy  touching  the  old 
Stone  Mill." 


CHAPTER    IX 


REDWOOD    LIBRARY. JEWISH    CEMETERY. JEWISH    SYNAGOGUE. 

AT  the  time  that  Bishop  Berkeley  resided  at  New- 
port, a  literary  and  philosophical  society  was 
formed  by  a  number  of  gentlemen  of  the  town.  The 
society  met  weekly  for  debates  and  conversation  upon 
questions  of  utility  and  interest ;  and  to  enable  them 
the  more  successfully  to  carry  out  their  original  plan, 
it  was  deemed  expedient  to  secure  a  library.  In  this 
step  we  trace  the  foundation  of  the  Redwood  Library 
and  Athenaeum.  The  attention  of  the  society  was 
immediately  directed  to  the  collection  of  books  ;  and 
in  1747  a  great  impulse  was  given  by  Abraham  Red- 
wood, Esq.,  who  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  society 
jC500,  for  the  purchase  of  standard  books  in  London 
For  the  following  sketch  of  the  library  building,  we 
are  indebted  to  the  history  of  the  Library,  introduced 
into  the  last  published  catalogue  : 

"  To  give  permanence  and  usefulness  to  his  donation,  Mr. 
Redwood  enjoined  on  the  society  the  duty  of  erecting  an  edi- 
fice, as  a  depository  for  such  books  as  might  be  purchased.  In 
pursuance  of  their  object,  a  charter  of  incorporation  was  ob- 
tained in  1747,  and  the  society  in  honor  of  their  most  liberal 
benefactor,  assumed  the  name  of  the  Redwood  Library  Com- 
pany For  the  erection  of  a  library  building,  five  thousand 
pounds  were  almost  immediately  subscribed  by  different  citi- 
zens of  the  town.  Henry  Collins,  Esq.,  proved  a  noble  coad- 
jutor of  Mr.  Redwood,  and  presented  in  June,  1748,  to  the 
company,  the  lot  of  land,  then  called  Bowling  Green,  on  which 
the  present  library  edifice  now  stands. 

6 


C2  NEWPORT      ILLUSTRATED. 

"  The  library  Building,  which  is  a  beautiful  specimen  of  the 
Doric  order,  was  commenced  in  1748,  and  completed  in  1750. 
The  plan  was  furnished  by  Joseph  Harrison,  Esq.,  assistant 
architect  of  Blenheim  House,  England.  He  also  superintended 
the  erection  of  the  edifice,  with  the  committee  of  the  company, 
consisting  of  Samuel  Wickham,  Henry  Collins  and  John  Til- 
linghast.  The  master-builders  were  Wing  Spooner,  Samuel 
Green,  Thomas  Melvil  and  Israel  Chapman.  The  principal 
front  is  ornamented  with  a  portico  of  four  Doric  columns,  sev- 
enteen feet  in  hight,  and  projecting  nine  feet  from  the  walls 
of  the  building.  The  edifice  consists  of  a  main  building,  and 
two  small  wings  on  each  side,  ranging  in  a  line  parallel  with 
the  west  end  of  the  building.  The  wings  furnish  two  rooms 
of  about  twelve  feet  square  The  principal  library  room,  occu- 
pying the  whole  of  the  main  building,  is  thirty-seven  feet  long, 
twenty-six  feet  broad,  and  nineteen  feet  in  hight.  The  whole 
building  is  supported  by  a  substantial  foundation  raised  seve- 
ral feet  from  the  ground." 

Names  of  the  leading  men  in  the  history  of  Rhode 
Island,  are  connected  with  this  library.  William 
Ellery,  Stephen  Hopkins,  Daniel  Updike,  James 
Honyman,  Jr.,  Dr,  Stiles;  and  many  others  in  turn 
were  active  members. 

Valuable  presents  have  been  made  to  the  library  at 
different  times,  and  the  late  Judah  Touro,  Esq.,inhis 
will,  bequeathed  three  thousand  dollars  to  the  Company, 
to  be  expended  in  books  and  repairs.  In  1843  he 
gave  a  thousand  dollars  to  defray  the  expense  of 
re-setting  ihe  steps. 

The  Library  contains  many  old  and  valuable  books 
that  are  now  comparatively  scarce  ;  but  many  of  the 
finest  works  were  carried  off  by  the  British  troops, 
when  they  left  the  Island.  The  loss  sustained  at  that 
time  can  never  be  replaced.  The  present  number  of 
volumes  is  between  six  and  seven  thousand. 

Continuing  along  Touro  street  to  the  north,  the  mas- 
sive granite  gateway  and  fence,  surrounding  the  Jewish 


NEWPORT       ILLUSTRATED 


63 


JEWISH    CEMETERY. 


Cemetery  will  attract  attention.  It  was  erected  in  1843 
by  order  of  the  late  Judah  Touro,  Esq.,  at  an  expense 
of  about  $12,000.  Mr.  Touro  was  a  native  of 
Newport,  and  in  these  grounds  repose  the  remains 
of  his  father  and  mother  and  other  members  of  his 
family.  The  cemetery  and  the  walk  in  front  are  kept 
in  repair  by  a  fund  provided  for  that  purpose  through 
the  liberality  of  Mr.  Touro. 

The  street  to  the  right,  and  leading  nearly  north, is 
Kay  street,  named  after  Nathaniel  Kay,  Esq., 
of  whom  mention  is  made  in  a  former  chapter.  Kay 
street  is  of  ample  width,  and  in  time,  the  walks  will  be 
shaded  by  the  ornamental  trees  that  have  been  planted. 
The  buildings — all  erected  within  fifteen  years — stand 
back  from  the  street,  and  many  of  them  are  large  and 


64  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 

expensive,  and  not  a  few,  are  neat  and  picturesque 
cottages. 

The  continuation  of  Touro  street  will  bring  us  to 
the  Jewish  Synagogue,  which  stands  in  an  open  lot, 
surrounded  by  a  granite  fence,  somewhat  similar  to 
that  around  the  cemetery.  The  synagogue  was  built 
in  1762,  and  up  to  the  war  it  was  regularly  opened  for 
services  ;  at  that  time  there  were  not  less  than  sev- 
enty Jewish  families  residing  in  Newport,  and  many 
of  their  members  were  numbered  among  the  most 
wealthy  and  influential  citizens.  It  was  the  only 
place  of  worship  in  New  England,  where  Hebrew 
was  chanted  and  read  weekly.  Abraham  Touro  left 
the  handsome  sum  of  $20,000  in  charge  of  the 
Town  authorities,  the  interest  to  be  expanded  in 
keeping  the  synagogue  and  grounds,  and  the  street 
leading  to  it,  in  good  repair,  and  the  wishes  of  the 
donor  have  been  carefully  complied  with. 


CHAPTER   X. 

SOUTH     TOURO     STREET. BUILDINGS    RECENTLY  ERECTED. BOAT 

HOUSE    LANDING. COGGESHALs'   LEDGE. SPOUTING    CAVE. 

¥ITHINa  few  years  a  street  has  been  opened  run- 
ning south,  in  continuation  of  Touro  Street,  and 
called  South  Touro  Street.  It  passed  through  several 
valuable  farms,  on  the  brow  of  the  hill,  the  lots  gently 
falling  away  on  either  side.  These  lots  were  quickly 
taken  up,  either  for  building  purposes  or  for  specula- 
tion. Many  of  them  have  changed  hands  repeatedly, 
and  always  at  a  large  advance  ;  but  now  they  are 
principally  owned  by  those  who  intend  to  occupy 
them.  Buildings  of  every  size,  shape  and  style,  have 
been  erected,  not  a  few  at  an  enormous  outlay,  and 
the  grounds  have  been  adorned  with  rare  plants  and 
trees,  and  divided  by  paths  sweeping  in  graceful  lines 
in  various  directions.  It  is  not  necessary  to  point  to 
individual  specimens  of  taste  ;  visitors  will  have  an 
opportunity  of  examining  these  princely  mansions  as 
they  ride  to  the  Boat  House  beyond,  and  to  the  beau- 
tiful beach  to  the  right,  where  the  road  terminates. 

It  will  reward  one  to  mount  the  rocks  on  either  hand 
near  the  termination  of  the  road,  to  gaze  upon  the 
open  sea,  that  ever  dashes  its  waves  over  the  half 
submerged  rocks  along  the  coast.  The  line  of  rocks 
directly  in  front  is  Coggeshall's  Ledge.  It  makes  a 
6* 


66  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 

fine  breakwater,  and  fishermen  take  advantage  of  it 

to  run  in  and  land  their  boats  near  the  boat  house. 

■ 

From  the  point  on  the  right,  there  is  a  fine  view 
of  Gooseberry  Island,  and  in  fine  weather  Block 
Island  can  plainly  be  seen,  without  the  aid  of  a  glass. 

Crossing  the  shingle  to  the  west  of  the  boat  house, 
we  may  again  approach  the  Spouting  Rock,  for  it  is 
situated  on  the  extremity  of  the  opposite  point. 


TOW 


CHAPTER    XI. 


THE    GLEN. 


HE  Glen  is  one  of 
the  most  charming 
spots  on  the  Island, 
and  the  roads  leading 
to  it  offer  many  beau- 
tiful and  attractive 
points.  Itis  situated 
about  six  miles  from 
Newport,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Island  and  about  a 
mile  off  the  main  road.  To  reach  it,  we  must  leave 
the  city  at  the  head  of  Broad  Street  and  follow  the 
road  to  the  two-mile  corner,  turn  to  the  right,  where 
the  road  descends,  cross  a  small  brook  and  mount  the 
opposite  hill.  The  road  is  wide  and  always  in  good 
repair,  though  often  dusty  during  the  dry  season. 

About  five  miles  out  we  pass  a  handsome  Episcopal 
church,  built  of  stone,  and  liberally  endowed  by  a 
lady  who  has  done  much  to  make  her  name  beloved 
by  all  acquainted  with  her  good  works. 

Farther  on  we  come  to  the  Atlantic  House,  form- 
erly a  tavern,  but  now  known  only  as  a  fashionable 
hotel.  We  believe  it  is  generally  well  sustained 
during  the  season,  and  riding  parties  often  pause  here 
for  refreshments,  and    to  stroll  through  the  gardens 


68 


NEWPORT     I  L  I7U  STRATED 


and  the  grand  old  orchards,  to  the  rear  of  the   house. 

The  next  property  beyond  is  owned  by  Miss 
Gibbs,  and  is  known  as  Oakland.  The  large  estate 
is  beautifully  adorned  with  shrubbery,  and  evergreen 
walks  in  which  Dr.  Channing  spent  many  hours 
of  his  life  in  study.  The  house,  hidden  from  view 
by  the  dense  foliage,  contains  many  gems  of  art, 
including  the  Jeremiah,  by  Allston. 

At  the  next  corner  stands  the  Union  meeting  house, 
where  Dr.  Channing  usually  preached,  when  on  the 
Island.  If  used  at  all,  at  the  present  time,  it  is  only 
occasionally  by  some  one  invited  to  preach,  and  we 
know  not  by  what  denomination  it  is  owned. 


GLEN. 


A  short  distance  beyond  the  meeting  house,  a  side 
road  turns  off  to  the  right  and  leads  directly  to  the 
Glen.     Passing  through  the  farm  gate,  that  for  years 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 


69 


has  been  opened  by  a  blind  boy,  on  the  approach 
of  strangers,  the  road  gently  winds  through  a  grove 
of  heavy  trees,  that  become  dense  as  we  advance, 
until  we  stand  upon  the  shore  of  the  little  pond  in  the 
centre  of  the  Glen. 

On  one  side  is  seen  the  old  mill,  its  wheel  turned  by 
the  falling  water,  breaking  the  stillness  of  the  scene ; 
and  on  the  right  the  water  falls  over  the  rocks,  steal- 
ing along  the  valley,  half  hid  from  view  by  the  flow- 
ers and  the  tall  grass,  until  it  is  lost  in  the  river 
just  seen  through  the  opening. 

On  a  fine  afternoon  hundreds  visit  this  quiet  spot, 
and  the  old  woods  are  often  made  to  ring  with  the 
merry  laugh,  or  the  gay  song  of  some  light  hearted 
girl,  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  freedom  from  restraint,  the 
gurgling  of  the  brook,  the  fragrance  of  the  wild  flowers 
and  the  prospect  of  the  distant  shore  from  under  the 
foliage  that  affords  a  grateful  shade. 

One  who  is  well  acquainted  with  the  Glen,  says 
of  it,  "  the  deep  valley  so  called,  is  as  sweet  a  bit 
of  inland  scenery  in  its  way,  as  the  country  affords. 
In  the  afternoon,  when  the  lateral  sunshine  plays 
through  the  surrounding  foliage,  the  old  mill  and  the 
clear  stream  form  an  admirable  study  for  the  land- 
scape painter." 

Returning  from  the  Glen,  and  before  reaching  the 
main  road,  we  should  pause  at  Mrs.  Durfee's  Tea 
House,  where  everything  will  be  found  in  order  for 
the  reception  of  visitors,  and  one  will  long  remember 
her  generous  hospitality. 


CHAPTER  XII 


EXCURSION  OVER  THE  BAY.-— FORT  ADAMS. ROSE  ISLAND. - 

THE  DUMPLINGS. 


A 


M  O  N  G 
the  many 
attractions 
held  out  by 
Newport  to 
those  who 
are  in 
search  o  f 
recreation 
and  health 
giving  ex- 
cise, there 
ar  e  none 
more  con- 
genial than 
pi  e  a  s  u  r  e 
excursions 
ove  r   t  h  e 

waters  of  Narragansett  Bay.  Few  visit  the  Island 
during  the  summer,  without  participating  in  the 
aquatic  sports  of  the  season,  and  it  is  rare  to  find  one 
indifferent  to  the  cool  breezes  and  the  gentle  undula- 


NEWPORT      ILLUSTRATED.  71 

ting  motion  of  the  sea,  as  the  boat  with  a  swan-like 
grace  dips  from  wave  to  wave.  The  harbor  is  pecu- 
liarly adapted  to  this  amusement ;  tide  there  is  little 
or  none,  the  few  sunken  rocks  are  marked  by  buoys, 
the  wind  is  generally  steady,  and  the  boats  and  yachts, 
that  are  kept  for  the  accommodation  of  the  public, 
are  safe  and  are  managed  by  men  who  have  been 
brought  up  upon  the  water.  On  a  summers'  afternoon 
the  two  harbors  are  enlivened  by  hundreds  of  these 
gaily  painted  boats,  their  snow-white  sails  spread  to 
the  breeze,  and  their  gaudy  colors  marked  clear  and 
defined  against  the  sky  that  may  rival  in  its  soft  tone 
and  boundless  depths  the  azure  robe  of  Italy. 

On  Tuesday  and  Friday,  when  the  fort  is  garri- 
soned, from  six  to  seven,  P.  M.,  it  is  fashionable  to 
visit  Fort  Adams,  as  at  that  hour  the  band  is  playing 
on  the  parade.  On  these  occasions  boats  of  every 
size  are  in  requisition,  and  the  number  assembled  at 
the  government  wharf  is  often  very  large.  The  cer- 
emony within  the  fort  closing,  the  visitors  betake 
themselves  to  their  boats  again,  and  spreading  sails 
are  seen  moving  to  and  fro,  as  pleasure  or  fancy  may 
dictate. 

Another  pleasant  sail  is  in  the  direction  of  Rose 
Wand.  This  requires  more  time,  and  affords  a 
finer  view  of  the  open  passage  to  the  south  and  the 
river  to  the  north.  The  island  is  low  but  picturesque 
in  form,  and  seems  to  float  upon  the  water.  A  group 
of  trees  upon  the  higher  parts  and  a.  few  shrubs 
planted  upon  the  crumbling  mounds,  would  give  it  a 
charming  appearance  from  all  points,  and  make  it 
much  more   attractive.     As   it  is    now,  fishing  par- 


72 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 


ties  have  to  rely  on  the  old  and  ruined  barracks  for  a 
shade. 

Another  point  of  interest,  that  can  only  be  visited 
in  a  boat,  is 


^ 


FORT    DUMPLINGS. 


or,  more  properly,  Fort  Brown,  situated  on  the  Island 
of  Conanicut,  just  at  the  mouth  of  the  outer  harbor. 
The  Fort  itself  is  oval  in  form,  and  placed  on  a  high 
wall  of  rocks,  against  which  the  ocean  waves  are 
ever  breaking.  The  water  in  front  is  very  bold,  the 
surrounding  rocks — the  Dumplings — are  rich  in  form 
and  color,  (many  of  them  graced  with  stunted  spruc^ 
trees,)  the  little  beach  is  a  gem,  and  the  hills,  as  they 
sweep  inland,  one  upon  another,  like  ocean  billows, 
delight  the  eye,  and  invite  man  to  pause  and  survey 
their  graceful  slopes.  The  rocks  are  here  hard  and 
stern ;  the  grass  has  not  the  rich  emerald  tint  seen 
on  Rhode  Island  ;  trees — in  the  foreground — there 
are  none,  and  the  few  bushes  hug  their  mother  earth, 


NEWPORT      ILLUSTRATED.  73 

as  if  afraid  to  raise  their  stunted  heads  ;  but  with  all 
this,  the  scene  is  beautiful ;  and  the  dreamy  stillness 
that  pervades  all  nature,  is  in  perfect  keeping  with 
the  ruined  tower  above  and  the  lazy  waters  below. 

The  fishing  around  the  Dumplings  is  excellent; 
and  there  is  probably  not  a  day  during  the  season, 
except  in  storms,  that  boats  are  not  seen  winding 
among  the  rocks  in  search  of  prey.  They  are  gene- 
rally successful,  although  the  fish  taken  are  small  as 
compared  with  the  same  variety  captured  off  the  reef. 

Gay  parties  often  resort  to  the  Dumplings  to  escape 
from  the  throng  of  the  city  for  a  while,  and  enjoy  a 
day  of  sunshine  and  pleasure  in  the  open  air.  Here 
they  spread  an  ample  tent,  or  gather  in  a  circle  on 
the  soft  and  yielding  turf,  to  partake  of  a  rich  and 
savory  chowder,  cooked  on  the  rocks,  and  served  in 
the  true  picnic  style — a  bowl  of  chowder  and  a  heap- 
ing tray  of  crackers,  flanked  with  lemons  and  sugar, 

and  a  flagon  of water. 

7 


CHAPTEK    XIII. 

CHURCH     OF     THE    HOLY    CRO!?S. CAPTURE     OF     GEN.    PRESCOTT. 

REDWOOD    HOUSE  BUTT'S    HILL. LAWTON's    VALLEY. R.    I. 

COAL    MINES. 

T)  Y  taking  the  main  road,  and  keeping  to  the  west, 
-L*  an  hour's  ride  will  bring  us  to  the  spot  where 
Gen.  Prescott  was  captured  by  Col.  Barton,  on  the 
night  of  June  10th,  1777.  The  road  is  not  as  much 
frequented  as  the  east  or  mail  route,  but  in  many 
respects  it  is  more  pleasing. 

At  the  corner  of  the  cross  read,  about  three  and  a 
half  miles  out,  stands  a  picturesque  little  church,  built 
from  a  design  by  Mr.  Upjohn,  and  called  the  Church 
of  the  Holy  Cross,  Beyond  this,  a  distance  of  per- 
haps a  mile  and  a  half,  we  reach  the  farm  known  as 
the  Page  place,  and  the  house  that  stands  back  a 
short  distance  from  the  road,  was  occupied  by  Gen. 
Prescott,  as  his  head-quarters  in  Portsmouth,  at  the 
time  that  he  was  surprised  by  the  Americans. 

The  capture  of  Gen.  Prescott  by  Col.  Barton  was 
a  memorable  event  in  the  history  of  the  Revolution, 
and  as  remarkable  for  its  daring  as  for  its  complete 
success.  It  is  unnecessary  here  to  rehearse  the 
story ;  every  one  is  acquainted  with  the  particulars, 
and  we  have  only  to  point  to  the  different  objects  to 
make  the  whole  scene  familiar. 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED.  75 

The  stream  that  gently  falls  over  the  wall,  then 
winds  across  the  road  and  under  the  little  bridge,  is 
soon  lost  to  view  in  the  tangled  brushwood  on  the 
west.  It  was  by  this  ravine,  (through  which  this 
stream  finds  its  way  to  the  sea,)  that  Barton  and  his 
party  approached  the  house.  The  gate  and  the  path 
remain  unchanged,  and  one  can  readily  imagine  the 
band  of  patriots  quietly  drawing  near  to  the  house, 
with  the  full  determination  of  capturing  the  leader  of 
the  enemy's  forces,  or  of  sacrificing  their  lives  in  the 
attempt.  The  work  was  soon  done.  The  old  negro 
(who  we  well  remember)  broke  in  the  panel  with  his 
head ;  the  astonished  General  was  taken  from  his 
bed,  and  without  allowing  him  time  to  dress,  he  was 
carried  forth  by  strong  arms,  and  hurried  over  a  field 
but  lately  reaped — the  stubble  sorely  cutting  his  naked 
feet — to  the  boat  in  waiting  at  the  mouth  of  the  creek. 
There  he  was  wrapped  in  Barton's  cloak,  and  the 
boats  pulled  away  for  the  opposite  shore,  passing 
directly  under  the  stern  of  one  British  man-of-war, 
and  under  the  bows  of  another ;  the  General  hearing 
the  sentinel  above  his  head  proclaiming  "  All's  well," 
but,  restrained  by  the  fear  of  instant  death,  he  could 
not  make  known  his  painful  situation. 

The  house  was  at  that  time  in  the  possession  of 
the  Overing  family,  and  by  some  it  is  still  called  the 
Overing  house.  Since  that  time  it  has  passed  through 
several  hands. 

The  name  of  Prescott  was  detested  by  friend  and 
foe,  and  independent  of  the  humiliation  and  disgrace 
attached  to  such  a  capture,  the  British  troops  were 


76 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED 


overjoyed   to    find    that   he    had    been    so    suddenly 
snatched  from  his  command. 
In  Newport,  the 


HEAD-QUARTERS  OF  GEN.   PRESCOTT, 

was  the  house  corner  of  Pelham  and  Spring  Streets, 
directly  opposite  the  Congregational  Church,  and 
now  the  property  of  Joshua  Sayer,  Esq.  During  the 
war  it  was  owned  by  the  Bannister  family.  The 
General,  in  pleasant  weather,  used  to  walk  from  the 
corner  of  the  house  in  Spring  Street  to  the  north 
corner  of  the  block,  and,  to  have  a  dry  flagging,  he 
caused  a  sufficient  number  of  stone  steps  to  be  re- 
moved from  the  neighboring  dwellings,  and  placed 
there  for  his  accommodation.  Here  he  used  to  sun 
himself,  and  wo  betide  the  man  who  had  the  temerity 
to  pass  him  without  taking  off*  his  hat. 

The  house  is  of  the  old  school,  of  which  we  have 
already  made  mention.     It  is  finished  throughout  with 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED.  77 

panel  work,  elaborate  mouldings,  rooms  of  ample  di- 
mensions, a  wide  hall  and  generous  staircase. 

The  next  estate  to  the  Page  place,  with  the  fine 
row  of  linden  trees  in  front,  is  the  Redwood  farm ; 
and  at  the  time  of  the  capture  of  Gen.  Prescott,  it  was 
occupied  by  Gen.  Smith,  who  was  second  in  com- 
mand. 

Beyond  the  Redwood  farm,  and  to  the  right,  there 
is  an  elevation,  known  as  Butt's  Hill.  Here  the 
Americans,  under  Sullivan  and  Greene,  made  a  des- 
perate stand  against  the  British,  at  the  time  they  were 
driven  from  the  Island.  The  odds  were  greatly  in  favor 
of  the  enemy,  but  nevertheless  these  brave  officers 
managed  to  cover  the  retreating  forces,  and  to  embark 
with  them  without  serious  loss. 

The  valley  below  Butt's  Hill  is  an  exceedingly 
picturesque  one,  and  is  known  as  Lawton's  Valley. 
It  is  watered  by  a  small  stream  that  flows  through  its 
entire  length,  and  falls  into  the  Bay.  Few  who  have 
leisure,  pass  this  lovely  spot  without  pausing  to  rest 
beneath  the  shade  of  the  trees  that  hang  gracefully 
over  the  little  brook. 

Keeping  the  road  for  a  distance  of  about  ten  miles 
from  Newport,  we  come  upon  the  Rhode  Island  Coal 
Mines.  The  mines  have  been  worked  for  a  number 
of  years,  and  at  the  present  time  the  yield  is  large, 
and  the  coal  of  a  quality  suitable  for  all  uses  where 
an  intense  heat  is  required,  and  a  strong  draft  can  be 
applied.  The  main  shaft  is  now  over  six  hundred 
feet  in  depth,  dipping  at  an  angle  of  35  degrees, 
with  five  lateral  galleries,  branching  off  at  lengths 
varying  from  three  hundred  to  eleven  hundred  feet, 
7* 


78  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 

One  may  descend,  if  disposed  to  explore  the  dark 
caverns  ;  but  the  sights  there  to  be  seen  will  scarcely 
repay  one  for  the  labor  and  fatigue  of  groping  through 
the  dark  and  damp  passages,  and  over  broken  frag- 
ments of  rock  and  coal. 


' ■■ 


. 


. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

STEAMBOATS    RUNNING    TO    AND    FROM    NEWPORT. 

NEWPORT  is  brought  into  direct  communication 
with  New  York  by  means  of  the  Bay  State  line 
of  steamers,  comprising  the  Bay  State,  Empire  State, 
State  of  Maine,  and  the  new  steamer  Metropolis. 
The  last  is  the  largest  and  every  way  the  finest  boat 
that  has  ever  been  on  the  Sound.  These  boats  leave 
New  York  every  afternoon,  at  five  o'clock  in  the 
summer  and  at  four  in  winter,  arriving  at  Newport 
between  two  and  three  the  next  morning,  where  they 
stop  at  the  Long  Wharf  to  land  their  passengers  and 
freight,  and  then  proceed  to  Fall  River  with  their 
Boston  passengers,  to  connect  with  the  Fall  River 
Railroad.  In  the  evening  the  cars  leave  Boston  at 
five  o'clock,  and  the  boats  touch  at  Newport  between 
eight  and  nine,  on  their  way  to  New  York,  where 
they  arrive  the  next  morning  at  a  seasonable  hour. 

The  steamer  Perry  plies  on  the  River,  between 
Newport  and  Providence,  making  two  trips  each  way 
daily  during  the  summer,  thus  accommodating  the 
travel  between  the  two  cities,  and  offering  facilities 
for  connecting  with  Boston  and  New  York,  by  means 
of  the  Providence  or  Worcester  Railroads. 

There  are  other  boats  connecting  with  Newport 
during  the  warm  season,  but  their  trips  are  not 
made  with  sufficient  regularity  to  be  noticed  here 


CHAPTER    XV. 


THE     FOINT WASHINGTON     STREET  DR.    WM.    HUNTER HON, 

WM.     HUNTER. DEATH      OF     CHEVALIER      DE     TERNAY. FORT 

GRKKNK. 


FINE  view  of  the  Bay 
and  Harbor  may  be  ob- 
tained from  the  Point, 
which  comprises  that 
part  of  the  city  to  the 
north  of  the  Long 
Wharf,  and  west  of 
Thames  Street. 

The  change  in  the 
appearance  of  the  Point 
within  a  few  years,  is 
very  great ;  not  that 
any  remarkable  buildings  have  gone  up  there,  but  the 
whole  of  that  portion  of  the  city  has  sensibly  im- 
proved. The  principal  streets  have  been  graded,  the 
buildings  generally  neatly  painted,  and  in  a  few  in- 
stances new  and  pretty  cottages  have  been  built. 
We  often  wonder  that  no  more  buildings  are  erected 
in  that  quarter ;  the  situation  is  delightful,  the  pros- 
pect finer  than  in  the  compact  part  of  the  city ;  it  is 
easy  of  access,  affords  a  fine  opportunity  for  bathing, 
and  offers  many  inducements  to  thosje  who  are  seek- 
ing desirable  building  lots. 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED.  81 

The  principal  street  running  north  and  south,  is 
Washington  Street.  About  half  way  from  the  Long 
Wharf,  and  a  few  doors  from  Bridge  Street,  stands 
the  Hunter  house,  another  of  the  old  fashioned  build- 
ings, so  characteristic  of  Newport. 

Here  Dr.  Wm.  Hunter  resided,  and  the  property 
is  still  in  the  hands  of  his  descendants. 

Dr.  Hunter  was  a  Scotch  physician  of  high  respect- 
ability He  was  educated  at  Edinburgh,  but  settled 
in  Newport  many  years  prior  to  the  Revolution.  It 
is  said  that  he  was  one  of  the  devoted  band  of  Scotch- 
men who  adhered  to  the  last  to  the  ill-fated  house  of 
Stuart,  and  that  his  emigration  hither  was  the  conse- 
quence of  his  participation  in  the  rebellion  of  1745. 
In  the  year  1755  Re  was  surgeon  of  the  troops  raised 
by  this  State  for  the  expedition  against  Crown  Point, 
and  it  was  in  his  tent  that  the  brave  Baron  Dieskau 
breathed  his  last.  In  the  year  1756  he  delivered  in 
this  city,  the  first  course  of  anatomical  lectures  ever 
given  in  the  country.  His  youngest  son,  the  late  Hon. 
William  Hunter,  was  born  at  Newport. 

Hon.  William  Hunter  graduated  at  Brown  Univer- 
sity, and  sailed  for  London,  where  he  commenced  the 
study  of  medicine  under  the  guidance  of  his  kinsman, 
the  celebrated  Dr.  Hunter.  The  profession,  however, 
was  distasteful  to  him,  and  he  soon  after  entered  the 
Inner  Temple,  a  pupil  of  Arthur  Murphy,  Esq.  Re- 
turning to  Newport,  and  having  been  admitted  to  the 
bar  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  he  soon  found  himself, 
despite  his  youth,  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  large  and 
lucrative  practice. 

In   1834,   Mr.    Hunter  was  appointed  Charge  to 


82  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 

Brazil,  an  office  which,  in  1842,  was  raised  to  that  of 
a  full  mission.  In  1844,  Mr.  Hunter  retired  from  the 
post  and  from  public  life,  and  returned  to  this  place, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death. 

As  a  lawyer,  Mr.  Hunter  was  distinguished  for  the 
extent  and  variety  of  his  learning,  while  his  varied 
accomplishments  gave  him  great  power  as  an  advo- 
cate. As  a  writer,  he  is  mostly  known  by  his  occa- 
sional orations  and  discourses,  which  display  rich 
and  ripe  scholarship. 

It  was  in  the  Hunter  house  that  the  Chevalier  De 
Ternay  breathed  his  last. 

At  the  northern  extremity  of  Washington  Street, 
Fort  Greene  is  situated ;  and  from  this  point  a  beau- 
tiful prospect  opens,  and  one  m^"  long  enjoy  the 
view  of  the  Bay  and  the  projecting  points  of  land. 

Fort  Greene  rests  in  part  on  the  Blue  Rocks.  It 
was  built  in  1776,  and  the  breastwork  was  thrown  up 
in  one  night,  for  the  purpose  of  attacking  the  British 
ship  Scarborough,  lying  off  Rose-  Island.  On  the 
following  day  the  guns  were  brought  to  bear  so  effect- 
ually upon  her  as  to  force  her  to  beat  an  ignoble 
retreat.  The  fort  was  called  the  North  Bi  tery  till 
1798,  when,  by  order  of  Congress,  the  present  fort 
was  built  and  named  after  Gen.  Greene. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

TAMMANY    HILL. TAMMANY    HILL    INSTITUTE. MALBONE's    GAR- 
DEN.  SMILERT. ALLSTON. STUART. ART     IN    AMERICA 

THE  rising  ground  to  the  north  of  the  city  is  known 
as  Tammany  Hill — so  called  from  the  fact  that 
Miantonomi,  an  Indian  sachem,  once  ruled  this  por- 
tion of  the  island,  and  it  has  been  said  that  he  made 
this  hill  the  seat  of  his  government ;  recent  discoveries 
have,  however,  shown  that  the  sachem  who  made 
this  hill  his  home  was  Wannemetonomie,  a  son  of 
Miantonomi.  The  hill  is  quite  elevated,  sloping 
gradually  to  the  south  and  west,  and  on  the  north  it 
is  very  abrupt. 

During  the  Revolution,  Tammany  Hill  was  sur- 
mounted by  a  breastwork,  thrown  up  by  the  British, 
and  was  made  one  of  a  chain  of  outposts  across  the 
Island.  The  remains  of  the  work  are  still  visible. 
There  is  a  lookout  rising  from  the  centre  of  the  hill, 
and  from  its  summit  a  fine  view  of  the  surrounding 
country  may  be  obtained.  We  have  often  paused 
upon  this  elevated  point  to  eirjoy  the  scene.  To 
watch  all  the  changes  in  the  landscape,  from  the  first 
dawn  of  light  to  the  last  dying  rays  of  the  setting  sun, 
is  the  privilege  of  those  only  who  reside  on  the  hill- 
tops ;  and  the  lessons  that  are  taught  to  the  young  by 
the   glories  of  the  sunlight  and  the  majesty  of  the 


84 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 


storm,  seen  from  a  point  like  this,  cannot  be  effaced 
even  amid  the  stirring  scenes  of  after  life. 

Tammany  Hill  is  a  portion  of  the  farm  bearing  the 
same  name,  and  here  Messrs.  Reid  &  Thurston 
have  their  school  for  boys,  who  are  instructed  in  all 
the  branches  of  popular  education,  and  are  carefully 
fitted  for  college  or  the  more  active  pursuits  of  life. 


TAMIUANY  HILL  INSTITUTE. 


A  little  lower,  on  the  south  side  of  the  hill,  stands 
a  picturesque  stone  house,  owned  by  J.  Prescott  Hall, 
Esq.  It  is  located  on  or  near  the  site  of  the  famous 
Malbone  House.  All  the  land  in  that  section  was 
once  the  property  of  the  late  Godfrey  Malbone,  Esq., 
and  the  estate  had  a  wide  reputation  for  the  taste  and 
elegance  displayed  by  its  wealthy  proprietor.  The 
house  was  accidentally  consumed  in  1766.  The 
flames  broke  out  as  a  large  party  were  about  to  sit 
down  to  dinner.  Mr.  Malbone,  finding  that  it  would 
be  impossible  to  save  the  house,  ordered  the  dinner 
to  be  taken  to  the  lawn  and  served,  observing,  "  If  I 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED.  85 

have  lost  my  house,  there  is  no  reason  why  we  should 
lose  our  dinner."  To  this  day  the  grounds  are  spoken 
of  as  Malbone's  Garden,  though  nothing  now  remains 
of  the  former  splendor,  save  the  artificial  fish-ponds, 
and  the  rows  of  ancient  fruit  trees. 

When  the  property  passed  out  of  the  Malbone  fam- 
ily, Edward  Malbone,  a  descendant  of  Godfrey  Mal- 
bone, Esq.,  devoted  himself  to  his  art  with  unabated 
zeal,  that  by  so  doing  he  might  in  lime  be  enabled  to 
repurchase  the  estate.  By  his  intense  application  to 
his  profession,  he  undermined  his  constitution,  and 
planted  the  seeds  of  a  disease  that  shortened  his  life. 

Newport  may  justly  be  proud  of  the  distinguished 
artists  who,  at  various  periods  of  her  history,  have 
shown  so  decided  an  attachment  to  her  soil.  Smilert 
painted  here,  and  probably  the  portrait  of  Bishop 
Berkeley,  now  at  Yale  College,  was  painted  at  White- 
hall. Samuel  King,  during  his  lifetime,  practised  por- 
trait painting  in  Newport,  and  it  is  a  matter  of  regret 
that  we  have  so  little  of  his  history  preserved  to  us  ;  but 
we  know  that  he  was  the  first  instructor  of  Malbone 
and  Allston,  and  that  the  store  in  Thames  Street,  now 
occupied  by  Mr.  Jno.  N.  Potter,  No.  130,  was  the  spot 
where  they  were  daily  employed  under  his  direction. 
Stuart  made  Newport  his  home  ;  his  attachment  to  it 
was  very  marked,  and  his  daughter,  Miss  Jane  Stuart, 
an  artist  of  much  skill,  resides  here  at  the  present  time. 
The  painting  in  the  Senate  Chamber  of  the  State 
House,  is  one  of  Stuart's  finest  works ;  and  as  a  con- 
trast to  it,  there  are  two  pictures  in  the  Redwood 
Library,  portraits  of  the  late  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bannister, 
painted  by  him  when  a  boy,  and  before  he  sailed  for 
8 


86  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 

Europe  to  study  with  West.  Mr.  Charles  B..  King, 
now  cf  Washington,  claims  Newport  as  his  home, 
and  many  of  his  finest  pictures  have  been  deposited 
in  the  Redwood  Library ;  'and  Mr.  R.  M.  Staigg, 
whose  miniatures  are  so  highly  prized,  is  a  citizen  of 
Newport  by  adoption. 

A  few  of  Malbone's  pictures  are  still  to  be  found 
in  Newport,  but  in  most  cases  they  have  been  pur- 
chased and  taken  away.  The  "  Hours  " — the  picture 
that  has  made  his  name  famous — is  at  present  m 
Providence. 

Art  in  America  has  had  to  struggle  to  maintain 
even  a  respectable  position.  For  it  to  rise  to  emi- 
nence in  this  land  of  cent,  per  cent.,  is  wholly  out  of 
the  question.  The  wonder  is,  how  in  the  whirl  of 
business,  when  all  that  bears  not  the  stamp  of  trade 
is  brushed  aside,  such  men  as  Stuart,  Malbone, 
Allston  and  King,  could  have  reached  the  temple  of 
Fame.  But  when  those  conversant  with  their  history 
reflect  upon  the  means  resorted  to  by  these  distin- 
guished men  to  secure  future  greatness  ;  when  we 
picture  them  toiling  incessantly,  at  every  sacrifice,  to 
meet  the  wants  of  life,  and  to  instill  into  the  public  a 
little  of  their  enthusiastic  love  of  Art,  with  no  public 
collection  at  hand  for  reference,  no  prospect  of  public 
patronage,  and  no  hope  beyond  that  of  leaving  some 
work  that  might  in  time  convey  to  the  more  discern- 
ing some  ^evidence  of  their  worth ;  when  we  know 
that  their  lives  were  thus  devoted  to  one  object,  the 
love  of  which  could  alone  sustain  them,  we  no  longer 
wonder  at  their  success,  but  learn  to  emulate  their 
zeal,  and  almost  to  worship  the  efforts  of  genius  se- 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED.  87 

cured  to  us  at  so  great  cost.  The  names  of  men  like 
these  can  never  die.  They  have  been  tried  in  the 
balance,  and  not  found  wanting.  Shall  we  leave 
others  to  struggle  against  like  reverses  of  fortune — 
reverses  that  try  all  but  the  more  enduring — shall  we 
leave  them  to  pass  through  the  same  ordeal,  to  be  pu- 
rified by  the  tire  of  afflictions,  the  offspring  of  neglect 
and  cold  indifference  ;  or,  shall  we  open  for  them  a 
way  by  instructing  the  young  to  seek  out  the  beautiful 
in  art  and  nature,  and  thus  lay  the  foundation  of  a 
wide  national  taste. 

In  America  we  have  no  established  schools  of  Art 
opened  to  the  puptl.  All  that  we  urge  is,  that  youth 
should  be  instructed  in  the  rudiments  of  Art,  as  they 
progress  with  their  other  studies.  By  such  a  course 
they  would  soon  learn  to  reverence  the  name  of  the 
great,  obtaining  at  the  same  time  a  knowledge  that 
would  prove  a  source  of  infinite  pleasure  in  after  life ; 
and  if  they  possess  a  single  spark  of  the  true  fire,  it 
will  find  a  way  to  display  itself,  and  to  triumph,  even 
if  it  be  kindled  in  a  land  that  has  done  so  little  for 
real  Art. 


CHAPTER     XVII. 


FRANKLIN  S  PRINTING  PRESS. 


THE     NEWPORT    MERCURY JAMES     FRANKLTN. BRENTON    TOWN 

HOUSE. JUDGE     HALLIBURTON. 


THE  first  newspaper  published  in  Newport  was 
issued  in  1732,  by  James  Franklin,  elder  brother 
of  Dr.  Benjamin  Franklin.  It  was  a  small  sheet,  the 
size  of  ordinary  letter  paper,  and  was  printed  on  a 
press  brought  from  Boston,  which  press,  imported  by 
James  Franklin,  is  now  standing  in  the  office  of  the 
Newport  Mercury. 

On  the  14th  of  February,  1734-5,  James  Franklin 


NEWPORT      ILLUSTRATED.  89 

died,  aged  38,  after  a  long  indisposition.  The  print- 
ing office  he  left  to  his  son  James,  then  a  child.  On 
the  12th  June,  1758,  James,  the  son,  issued  the  first 
number  of  the  Newport  Mercury.  He  was  assisted 
in  the  management  of  it  by  his  mother,  Mrs.  Ann 
Franklin,  and  in  a  few  years,  James,  having  left  New- 
port, for  some  cause  never  made  known,  and  never  to 
return,  her  imprint  alone  appeared  on  the  paper.  The 
daughter  of  Mrs.  Franklin  having  married  one  Samuel 
Hall,  the  Mercury  was  made  over  to  him,  and  subse- 
quently it  was  transferred  to  Solomon  Southvvick,  who 
published  it  until  December,  1776,  when  it  was  dis- 
continued lor  a  time,  Southwick  fearing  the  British, 
who  were  preparing  to  land  on  the  Island,  would  des- 
troy his  property.  To  prevent  his  press  and  types, 
then  standing  in  the  office  on  Queen  Street,  near  the 
middle  of  the  parade,  from  falling  into  their  hands, 
they  were  removed  to  the  rear  of  the  old  building  on 
Broad  Street,  known  as  the  Kilburn  House,  where 
they  were  buried  in  the  garden.  The  fact  that  the 
property  was  so  secreted  was  made  known  to  the 
commander  of  the  British  troops,  who  caused  it  to  bo 
removed  to  the  building  known  as  the  Vaughan  House, 
making  the  north  corner  of  the  Parade  and  Thames 
Street,  where,  in  the  chambers,  one  John  Howe,  who 
*was  known  as  printer  to  his  Majesty,  regularly  issued 
the  Rhode  Island  Gazette  during  1777-78-79,  copies 
of  which  paper  can  now  be  seen  at  the  Redwood  Li- 
brary. After  the  war,  the  office  was  purchased  by 
Mr.  Henry  Barber,  and  the  Mercury  was  again  issued 
January  1,  1780.  It  continued  in  the  possession 
of  the  Barber  family  for  over  seventy  years,  having 
8* 


90 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 


been  owned  by  father,  son,  and  grandson  in  succes- 
sion. It  is  now  the  property  of  Messrs.  Coggeshall 
&  Pratt. 

The  house  directly  opposite,  standing  back  from  the 
street,  and  shaded  by  large  and  beautiful  trees,  is 
known  as  the 


CHANNING    HOUSE, 


but  it  has  an  interest  apart  from  the  fact  that  it  was 
once  owned  by  members  of  the  Channing  family.  It 
was  built  by  Jalaeel  Brenton,  Esq.,  in  1720,  and  was 
occupied  by  his  family  as  a  town  house.  It  was  in 
this  building  that  Judge  Halliburton  of  Nova  Scotia, 
wis  born  ;  and  here,  in  later  times,  Washington  pass- 
ed a  night.  It  was  then  kept  as  a  boarding-house  by 
a  Mrs.  Almy.  Subsequently  it  passed  through  many 
hands,  and  is  now  owned  by  Adam  S.  Coe,  Esq.,  and 
is  occupied  as  a  boarding  school  for  young  ladies,  by 
Misses  Coe. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 


WHITEHALL. 


A      RIDE     TO     GREEN     END,     HONYMAN  S     H.LL,    WHITEHALL,    AND 
OVER    THE    BEACHES. 


FEW  spots  in  the  environs  of  Newport  are  more 
endeared  to  the  antiquarian  than  the  quiet  vale 
where  Berkeley  lived,  and  wrote  his  finest  works.  The 
changes  that  have  been  effected  in  that  portion  of  the 
island  for  the  century  past,  are  slight  indeed,  and  one 
can  there  still  enjoy  the  quiet  and  repose,  so  congenial 
to  the  mind  of  Berkeley,  climb  the  hill,  named  for  his 
friend  and  neighbor,  to  survey  the  scene  that  always 


92  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 

filled  his  mind  with  delight;  or,  enjoy  the  shade  of 
the  overhanging  rocks,  where,  in  fine  weather,  he  daily 
wrote,  undisturbed,  save  by  the  murmur  of  the  distant 
ocean,  the  song  of  birds,  and  the  low  hum  of  bees. 

The  day  is  fine,  the  roads  are  in  excellent  order, 
and  we  will  turn  our  horses' heads  towards  Green  End 
and  chat  of  Berkeley's  sojourn  on  Rhode  Island,  as 
we  gently  mount  the  hill. 

Whitehall  can  be  reached  by  passing  over  the  Beach 
and  the  neck  of  land  that  divides  it  from  the  second 
beach,  and  then  up  through  the  valley  that  opens  to 
the  left:  or,  by  the  main  and  Green  End  roads,  re- 
turning by  the  beaches.  We  prefer  the  latter,  and 
will  now  take  the  road  leading  from  Broad  Street,  and 
follow  it  for  half  a  mile  or  so,  where  it  branches  off  to 
the  right,  and  to  the  right  we  must  keep.  On  either 
slope  are  beautiful  meadows  of  emerald  green :  the 
orchards  already  display  thick  clusters  of  ripening 
fruit :  the  maze,  in  its  perfection,  is  gently  swayed  by 
the  soft  breezes  from  the  sea,  and  the  birds,  that  fill 
the  air  with  their  song,  fly  not  at  the  approach  of  man. 

At  the  top  of  the  first  hill  we  look  down  upon  Eas- 
ton's  Pond,  a  large  sheet  spread  out  before  us,  its 
waters  unbroken,  save  by  the  light  skiff  of  the  angler, 
or  the  duck  leading  forth  her  young  brood  upon  its 
glassy  surface.  Its  eastern  shore  is  bounded  by  Eas- 
ton's  beach,  and  in  the  breakers  beyond  we  can  descry 
the  bathers,  dark  against  the  white  waves  sporting  on 
the  shore. 

To  the  east,  the  eye  rests  upon  the  valley  below, 
and  the  rising  ground  that  shuts  out  the  view  on  the 
opposite  side.     The  hill  is  known  as  Honyman's  Hill, 


NEWPORT      ILLUSTRATED.  93 

and  on  its  summit  the  American  forces  were  once 
gathered,  under  Lafayette,  to  repulse  the  British  troops, 
then  in  possession  of  the  spot  on  which  we  now  stand. 
The  remains  of  the  breast  work,  thrown  up  by  the 
British,  are  still  visible  on  the  farm  to  the  east,  and 
when  a  portion  of  it  was  levelled  a  few  years  since, 
cannon  balls  were  brought  to  light,  that  were  thrown 
from  the  American  work  before  the  general  retreat 
under  Sullivan. 

As  we  descend  the  hill  we  lose  the  view  of  all  save 
the  sloping  banks  of  green,  the  gnarled  and  twisted 
trees  that  have  yielded  their  fruits  to  father  and  son 
for  generations,  and  the  quiet  little  brook,  that  takes 
its  rise  in  the  woods  some  miles  to  the  north,  and 
empties  its  limpid  waters  in  the  pond  to  the  right. 
The  view  is  contracted,  for  the  road  curves  at  every 
few  rods,  and  each  change  is  more  pleasing  than  the 
last. 

The  ascent  of  Honyman's  Hill  is  somewhat  steep. 
On  the  left  hand,  just  by  the  school  house,  there  is  a 
narrow  road,  running  north,  and  shaded  by  overhang- 
ing trees,  that,  for  a  short  drive,  is  very  pleasant.  It 
comes  out  on  the  main  road,  about  three  miles  from 
town.  We  continue  the  ascent,  and  as  we  approach 
the  summit  of  the  hill,  find  ourselves  well  repaid  for 
the  exertion. 

To  the  south  a  wider  view  is  offered.  The  Pond, 
Easton's  Beach,  the  more  elevated  portions  of  the 
town,  and  the  cliffs,  pushing  far  out  into  the  sea,  are 
spread  out  before  us  like  a  map.  Each  object  can 
be  distinctly  seen,  and  even  the  sails  and  masts  of 


91  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 

the  light  craft,  far  out  on  the  horizon,  are  clearly- 
marked. 

Berkeley,  when  asked  why  he  did  not  select  this 
spot  for  the  site  of  his  house,  replied,  "  To  enjoy  the 
prospect  of  the  hill,  he  must  visit  it  only  occasionally  ; 
that,  if  his  constant  residence  should  be  oh  the  hill, 
the  view  would  be  so  common  as  to  lose  all  its 
charms." 

George  Berkeley,  son  of  William  Berkeley,  was 
born  at  Kilcrin,  near  Thomaston,  county  of  Kilkenny, 
March  12,  1764.  At  the  county  schools  he  received 
the  rudiments  of  education,  and  at  fifteen  years  of 
age  he  entered  as  a  pensioner  in  the  University  of 
Dublin,  where,  at  the  expiration  of  eight  years,  he 
obtained  a  fellowship.  At  this  time  he  published 
some  of  his  writings,  principally  upon  mathematical 
science.  In  1709  he  gave  to  the  world  his  "  Theory 
of  Vision,"  and  the  following  year  he  published  the 
"Principles  of  Human  Knowledge."  In  1712  he 
was  induced  to  enter  upon  the  discussion  of  political 
theories,  and  to  Locke's  celebrated  treatise  the  world 
is  indebted  for  the  sudden  turn  given  to  his  writings. 
Berkeley's  support  of  the  banished  Stuarts  made  him 
unpopular  at  the  time,  insomuch  that  Lord  Galway 
represented  him  as*  a  Jacobite,  which  unfavorable 
impression  was  only  removed  through  the  agency  of 
his  college  pupil,  Mr.  Molyneaux. 

The  writings  of  Berkeley  early  attracted  consider- 
able attention,  and  they  soon  became  the  subject  of 
discussion  and  contioversy.  With  Dr.  John  Clarke 
he  had  a  controversy  of  a  serious  and  protracted  na- 
ture, and  many  years  after,  through  the  influence  of 


NEWPORT      ILLUSTRATED.  95 

Addison,  the  parties  were  brought  together  ;  but  they 
separated  without  a  settlement  of  their  dispute. 

In  1713,  Berkeley  went  over  to  London  to  super- 
intend the  publishing  of  his  three  Dialogues  between 
Hylas  and  Philonous,  which  brought  him  to  the  notice 
of  the  most  celebrated  literary  men  of  his  day.  He 
became  intimate  with  Steele  and  Pope,  and  at  the 
request  of  the  former,  wrote  several  papers  for  the 
Guardian  ;  for  each  of  which  it  is  said  he  received  a 
guinea  and  a  dinner.  He  was  introduced  by  Steele 
to  the  Earl  of  Peterborough,  who  took  him  as  chap- 
lain and  secretary,  when  he  received  the  appointment 
of  Ambassador  to  the  King  of  Sicily. 

In  1724,  Berkely  was  preferred  to  the  deanery  of 
Derry,  with  a  living  of  j£1,100.  But  new  thoughts 
had  found  birth,  and  these  filled  his  mind  with  visions  of 
future  usefulness.  His  heart  was  filled  with  the  lofty 
and  holy  design  of  converting  the  savages  of  America 
to  Christianity,  by  means  of  a  College  to  be  erected 
on  the  Island  of  Bermuda.  The  design  once  con- 
ceived, he  arranged  and  drew  up  plans  with  full  ex- 
planations, and  solicited  the  influence  of  his  friends 
to  secure  for  these  a  favorable  hearing.  His  feelings 
at  the  time  found  utterance  in  the  verses  so  often 
quoted : 

"  Westward  the  course  of  Empire  takes  its  way." 

The  project  which  Berkeley  had  so  much  at  heart, 
is  admirably  set  forth  in  a  letter  from  Swift  to  Lord 
Carteret.     In  this  he  says  : 

"Your  Excellency  will  be  frighted  when  I  tell  you  all  this 
is  but  an  introduction,  for  I  am  now  to  mention  his  errand. 


■ 

96  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED 


He  is  an  absolute  philosopher  with  regard  to  money,  titles  and 
power  ;  and  for  three  years  past,  has  been  struck  with  a  notion 
of  founding  a  university  at  Bermudas,  by  a  charter  from  the 
crown.  .  .  He  showed  me  a  little  tract  which  he  designs  to 
publish,  and  there  your  Excellency  will  see  the  whole  scheme 
of  a  life  academico-philosophical, — I  shall  make  you  remember 
what  you  were, — of  a  college  founded  for  Indian  scholars  and 
missionaries,  where  he  most  exorbitantly  proposes  a  whole 
£100  for  himself,  £40  for  a  fellow,  and  £10  for  a  student. 
His  heart  will  break  if  his  deanery  be  not  taken  from  him,  and 
left  at  your  Excellency's  disposal." 

The  efforts  to  change  the  views  of  Berkeley  were 
unavailing ;  and  to  carry  out  his  plans,  he  sent  in  his 
proposals  to  King  George  I.  The  result  is  well 
known.  On  the  11th  of  May,  1726,  it  was  voted  in 
the  House  of  Commons,  "  That  an  humble  address  be 
presented  to  His  Majesty,  that  out  of  the  lands  in  St. 
Christophers,  yielded  by  France  to  Great  Britain  by 
tke  treaty  of  Utrecht,  His  Majesty  would  be  graciousy 
pleased  to  make  such  grant  for  the  support  of  the 
president  and  fellows  of  the  College  of  St.  Paul's  in 
Bermuda,  as  His  Majesty  should  think  proper."  To 
this  the  King  answered  favorably,  and  Berkeley  felt 
sure  that  the  .£20,000  asked  for  would  be  forthcoming. 
But  the  statesmen  of  the  day  thought  differently,  and 
before  the  great  seal  was  affixed,  the  King  died. 
Berkeley  did  not  pause  for  this,  but  arranged  his 
affairs  with  the  full  expectation  of  ultimately  receiv- 
ing the  grant ;  and  in  1728,  having  married  but  a 
month  previous,  he  sailed  for  this  port.  Here  he 
corresponded  with  his  friends  in  England  and  Ireland 
on  the  subject  of  his  grant.  It  then  often  required 
six  months,  and  sometimes  a  year,  to  transmit  a  letter. 
He  met  with  no  encouragement,  and  after  learning 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED.  97 

that  the  land  in  St.  Christophers  had  been  sold  and 
the  proceeds  distributed  without  regard  to  his  claim, 
and  having  received  the  following  reply  from  Walpole 
to  Bishop  Gibson's  question  in  his  behalf,  he  settled 
his  affairs  and  returned  to  Dublin :  "  If  you  put  the 
question  to  me  as  a  minister,  I  trust  and  assure  you 
that  the  money  shall  most  undoubtedly  be  paid  as 
soon  as  suits  with  public  convenience  ;  but  if  you  ask 
me  as  a  friend,  whether  Dean  Berkeley  should  con- 
tinue in  America,  expecting  the  payment  of  £20,000, 
I  advise  him,  by  all  means,  to  return  home  to  Europe, 
and  to  give  up  his  present  expectations." 

The  following  tradition  of  the  landing  of  Dean 
Berkeley  in  Newport,  we  extract  from  "  Memoirs  of 
Rhode  Island,"  by  the  late  Major  Bull: 

"  The  ship  ran  into  the  west  passage,  and  came  to  anchor. 
The  Dean  wrote  a  letter  to  Mr.  Honyman,  [rector  of  Trinity 
Church,]  which  the  pilots  took  on  shore  at  Conanicut  Island, 
and  called  on  a  Mr.  Gardner  and  Mr.  Martin,  two  members  of 
Mr.  Honyman's  church,  informing  them  that  a  great  dignitary 
of  the  Church  of  England,  called  Dean,  was  on  board  the  ship, 
together  with  other  gentlemen  passengers.  They  handed  them 
the  letter1  from  the  Dean,  which  Gardner  and  Martin  brought 
to  Newport  in  a  small  boat,  with  all' possible  dispatch.  On 
their  arrrval  they  found  Mr.  Honyman  at  church,  it  being  a 
holyday  on  which  divine  service  was  held  there.  They  then 
sent  the  letter  by  a  servant,  who  delivered  it  to  Mr  Honyman 
in  the  pulpit.  He  opened  it  and  read  it  to  the  congregation, 
from  the  contents  of  which  it  appeared  the  Dean  might  be 
expected  to  land  in  Newport  every  moment.  The  church  was 
dismissed  with  a  blessing,  and  Mr.  Honyman,  with  the  war- 
dens, vestry,  church  and  congregation,  male  and  female,  re- 
paired immediately  to  the  Ferry  wharf,  where  they  arrived  a 
little  before  the  Dean,  his  family  and  friends." 

Berkeley  was  charmed  with  Rhode  Island,  and  in 
writing  to  his  friends  he  describes  it  as  "  pleasantly 
laid  out  in  hills  and  vales  and  rising  grounds,  and  hath 
9 


98  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 

plenty  of  excellent  springs,  and  fine  rivulets,  and  many 
delightful  landscapes  of  rocks,  and  promontories,  and 
adjacent  lands."  He  soon  became  settled,  and  built 
Whitehall,  in  the  valley  below  us,  and  to  approach  it 
we  leave  the  main  road  to  the  left,  enter  a  gate,  and 
follow  the  path  a  few  rods  to  the  house — now  fast 
going  to  decay  from  neglect,  and  the  wear  of  more 
than  a  hundred  New  England  winters. 

The  worthy  dean  found  in  Newport  a  society  re- 
fined and  elevated,  whose  pursuits  were  congenial  to 
his  tastes.  With  others,  he  soon  formed  a  philoso- 
phical association,  comprising  the  names  of  men  dis- 
tinguished in  their  day  for  their  learning  and  liberality, 
and  who  ultimately  laid  the  foundation  of  the  Red- 
wood Library. 

Whitehall  was  given  by  Berkeley  to  Yale  College, 
which  still  retains  the  fee,  and  he  also  presented  that 
institution  with  a  considerable  portion  of  his  library. 
Of  his  favorite  resort,  Major  Bull  thus  speaks : 

"  During  his  residence  at  Whitehall  he  wrote  his  '  Minute 
Philosopher,'  and  his  celebrated  poem,  so  oracular  as  to  the  future 
destinies  of  America.  'These  were  principally  written  at  a 
place  about  half  a  mile  to  the  south  of  his  house.  There  he 
had  his  chair  and  writing  apparatus  placed  in  a  natural  alcove 
which  he  found  in  the  most  elevated  part  of  the  Hanging 
Rocks,  (so  called)  roofed  and  only  open  to  the  south,  command- 
ing at  once  a  view  of  Sachuest  Beach,  the  ocean  and  the 
circumjacent  islands.  This  hermitage  was  to  him  a  favorite 
and  solitary  retreat.  He  continued  here  about  two  years,  per- 
haps a  little  longer.  He  was  certainly  here  as  late  as  Septem- 
ber, 1731,  as  appears  by  a  supplementary  inscription  on  the 
tombstone  of  Nathaniel  Kay,  Esq.,  which  is  as  follows,  viz: 
Joining  to  the  south  of  this  tomb,  lies  Lucia  Berkeley,  daughter 
of  Dean  Berkeley,  obit,  the  5th  of  September,  1731." 

And  it  is  recorded  of  him  by  another  : 
"  Hi3  preaching  was  eloquent  and  forcible,  and  he  always 


NEWPORT      ILLUSTRATED.  99 

Jiad  a  large  congregation      He  was  tolerant  in  religious  opin- 
ions, and  members  of  all  denominations  flocked  to  hear  him  " 

After  Berkeley's  return  to  England,  he  presented 
Trinity  Church  with  the  organ,  still  seen  in  that  edi- 
fice. A  recent  examination  of  the  records  of  the  town 
of  Berkeley,  Mass.,  has  brought  to  light  the  fact  that 
the  name  of  Berkeley  was  given  to  the  parish  as  a 
compliment  to  the  dean,  and  that  after  his  return  to 
Dublin  he  caused  a  magnificent  organ  to  be  built, 
which  he  shipped  to  his  agent  at  Newport,  to  be  for- 
warded to  Berkeley.  The  selectmen  of  the  latter 
place,  when  they  received  the  letter  from  the  dean, 
called  a  town  meeting,  and  it  was  voted  that  "  an  or- 
gan is  an  instrument  of  the  devil  for  the  entrapping  of 
men's  souls,"  and  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  it. 
The  vote  was  soon  made  known  to  Berkeley,  who 
subsequently  presented  the  organ  to  Trinity  Church. 
The  original  case,  of  English  oak,  is  still  in  use  in 
the  church,  and  it  contains  a  part  of  the  old  works, 
with  the  addition  of  such  new  pipes  as  were  found 
necessary  when  it  was  rebuilt  a  [ew  years  ago. 

In  1753  Bishop  Berkeley  died  at  Oxford.  He  ex- 
pired in  his  chair,  of  palsy  of  the  heart,  while  his 
wife  was  reading  to  him  a  sermon  by  Sherlock.  So 
easy  was  his  death  that  some  time  elapsed  before  it 
was  known  to  those  around  him. 

Leaving  the  quiet  retreat,  where  an  hour  may  be 
spent  most  delightfully,  we  follow  the  road  quite  to 
the  foot  of  the  hill,  cross  a  slight  bridge  over  a  little 
brook  that  ever  flows  on  towards  the  sea — overshad- 
owed by  drooping  willows,  and  bordered  by  tall  flags 
and  tangled  wild  flowers, — and  follow  its  course  neaily 


100  NEWPORT      ILLUSTRATED. 

to  the  shore.  Here  it  is  gurgling  at  our  feet,  and  there 
it  steals  off  through  the  meadows,  only  to  return  and 
cross  the  road  again  before  we  finally  turn  our  back 
upon  it. 

Beyond  the  last  narrow  bridge  the  road  opens  upon 
the  sands  of  Sachuest  Beach.  To  the  left  are  the 
hanging  rocks,  showing  their  dark  sides  and  surmount- 
ed with  stunted  spruce  and  fir  trees  ;  on  the  extreme 
left,  Sachuest  Point  is  whitened  by  the  breakers,  and 
on  the  right,  and  almost  in  front,  are  the  massive 
rocks  of  Purgatory.  Following  the  road  to  the  right, 
and  passing  the  old  boat  house  by  the  gate,  we  soon 
reach  the  summit  of  the  hill,  from  which  another  view 
of  Easton's  Beach  may  be  obtained,  with  the  spires  of 
the  city  in  the  distance,  cutting  sharp  against  the  sun- 
set sky. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 


.IBERTY     TREE. HENRY    MARCHANT,    ESQ. HON.    WM.     ELLERY. 


m0 


y 


LIBERTY  TREE. 


AT  the  head  of  Thames  Street  stands  the  venerable 
Liberty  Tree,  spreading  abroad  its  bleached  and 
naked  limbs,  that  groan  and  crackle  beneath  the  blasts 
of  winter,  and  afford  no  sheltering  shade  during  the 
heat  of  summer. 
0* 


102  NEWPORT      ILLUSTRATED. 

In  1766,  Wm.  Read,  Esq.,  deeded  to  Wm.  Ellery, 
John  Collins,  Robert  Cooke  and  Samuel  Fowler,  the 
Liberty-  Tree  lot.  The  instrument,  drawn  up  by 
Henry; Marchant,  Esq.,  is  to  this  effect: 

.  Said  lot  and  tree  thereon,  were  conveyed  to  the  grantees  "  in 
trust,  and  for  ever  thereafter  to  be  known  by  the  name  of  the 
4  Tree  of  Liberty,',  to  be  set  apart  to,  and  for  the  use  of,  the 
Sons  of  "Liberty  ;  and  that  the  same  stand  as  a  monument  of 
the  spirited  and  noble  opposition  to  the  Stamp  Act,  in  the 
year  1765,  by  the  Sons  of  Liberty  in  Newport,  and  throughout 
the  continent  of  North  America,  and  to  be  considered  as  em- 
blematical of  Public  Liberty  taking  deep  root  in  English 
America,  of  her  strength  and  spreading  protection,  of  her 
benign  influences,  refreshing  her  sons  in  all  their  just  struggles 
against  the  attempts  of  tyranny  and  oppression.  And  further- 
more, the  said  Tree  of  Liberty  is  destined  and  set  apart,  for 
exposingto  public  ignominy  and  reproach,  all  offenders  against 
the  liberties  of  the  country,  and  the  abettors  and  approvers  of 
such  as  would  enslave  her.  And,  in  general,  said  tree  is 
hereby  set  apart,  for  such  other  purposes  as  they,  the  true-born 
Sons  of  Liberty,  shall,  from  time  to  time,  from  age  to  age,  and 
in  all  times  and  ages  hereafter,  apprehend,  judge  and  resolve, 
may  subserve  the  glorious  cause  of  Public  Liberty." 

The  British  destroyed  the  tree  thus  dedicated ;  but 
after  the  evacuation,  the  present  tree  was  planted  by 
a  party  of  thirteen,  in  1783,  whose  names  are  en- 
graved on  the  plate  of  copper,  now  nearly  covered  by 
the  bark  of  the  tree. 

"  They  are  gone — all  gone,"  it  seemed  to  say  ; 
"They  are  all  in  their  graves,  and  why  should  I  stay?" 
The  stout  old  hands  that  planted  me  here 
Have  been  mouldering  now  for  many  a  year ; 
Their  children  and  children's  children  I  've  seen 
Laid  down  in  the  shade  of  my  branches  green ; 
That  stalwart  race  is  gone  from  the  land, 
And  why  should  I  any  longer  stand  ! 
My  royal  equals,  too,  of  the  wood, 
Who  in  other  days  around  me  stood, — 
The  motherly  elm  and  the  fatherly  oak, — 
liave  bowed  to  decay  or  the  woodman's  stroke ; 


NEWPORT      ILLUSTRATED.  103 

The  poplar,  the  beech,  and  the  dark  green  ash, 

Have  startled  the  fields  with  their  farewell  crash  ; 

They  have  left  me  here  in  my  solitude, 

O'er  the  memories  of  the  past  to  brood, 

And  over  my  present  misery, 

A  poor,  old,  naked  and  useless  tree.  ^ 

****** 
"  0,  men  that  have  hearts  of  flesh,  (I  pray,) 

That  the  woes  of  a  poor  old  tree  can  feel, 

Come  to  my  help  with  the  merciful  steel ! 

Come  with  your  axes,  and  lay  me  low  ! 

They  are  gone,  and  't  is  time  1  too  should  go. 

Build  in  the  chimney  my  funeral  pyre, 

And  let  me  mount  on  wings  of  fire, 

To  crown  with  deathless  green  the  shore 

Where  the  fathers  are  gathered  for  evermore."* 

Henry  Marchant,  Esq.,  already  alluded  to  in  this 
chapter,  was  a  native  of  Martha's  Vineyard.  He 
was  brought  to  Newport  when  he  was  but  four  years 
of  age,  and  here  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life 
in  the  practice  of  the  law.  In  the  office  of.  Judge 
Trowbridge,  of  Cambridge,  he  acquired  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  his  profession ;  and  when  he  com- 
menced practising,  he  was  the  only  dissenting  or 
liberal  lawyer  in  the  colony.  He  met  with  a  strong 
opposition  from  the  majority  party,  but  his  legal  abili- 
ties had  only  to  be  known  to  command  for  him  an 
overwhelming  majority  ;  and  he  found  no  difficulty  in 
maintaining  his  seat  in  the  Legislature  for  a  number 
of  years,  through  all  the  vicissitudes  of  party.  During 
the  Revolution,  he  was  an  active  leader  of  the  Whig 
party,  and  one  of  the  most  obnoxious  individuals  to 
the  ministerialists.  Elected  a  delegate  to  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  he  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the 
Confederation,  and  while   signing,  he  said,  the   guns 

*  "Songs  of  Field  and  Flood,"  by  ftev.  C.  T.  Brooks. 


104  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 

of  the  Battle  of  the  Brandywine  were  roaring  in  his 
ears.  And  his  biographer  adds  :  "  Upon  the  organi- 
zation of  the  government  under  the  Constitution,  he 
was  nominated  by  Gen.  Washington,  then  President 
of  the  United  States,  Judge  of  the  District  Court  of 
Rhode  Island,  and  his  nomination  was  unanimously 
confirmed.  The  duties  of  that  office  were  discharged 
with  distinguished  ability  and  reputation  until  his 
death." 

The  remains  of  Mr.  Marchant  were  interred  in 
the  North  Burying  Ground,  near  the  Perry  Monu- 
ment. 

The  large  white  house  on  Thames  Street,  and 
near  to  the  Liberty  Tree,  was  the  residence  of  the 
late  Hon.  William  Ellery,  and  is  still  occupied  bv  his 
descendants. 

Hon.  Wm.  Ellery  was  born  at  Newport,  Dec.  22d, 
1727.  He  graduated  at  Harvard,  and  entered  life  as 
a  merchant  In  this  pursuit  he  was  successful,  and 
at  one  time  he  was  Naval  Officer  for  the  port.  In 
1770  Mr.  Ellery  began  the  practice  of  the  law,  and 
he  was  soon  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  lucrative  business. 
In  1776,  with  Stephen  Hopkins,  he  was  elected  a 
delegate  to  the  memorable  Congress,  and  was  one  of 
the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  Du- 
ring his  public  life  he  was  constantly  employed  on 
some  of  the  most  responsible  duties,  and  at  a  time 
when  his  services  were  most  needed,  he  was  a  con- 
spicuous member  of  the  Marine  Committee.  He  left 
Congress  in  1785,  and  in  1790  he  was  appointed 
Collector  of  the  Customs  at  Newport. 

Mr.  Ellery  contributed  largely  to  the  journals   of 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED.  105 

his  day,  in  behalf  of  order,  public  faith  and  efficient 
government.  He  studied  the  Bible  diligently  and 
reverently,  and  acquainted  himself  with  the  opinions 
and  reasons  of  hostile  theologians.  Humility  was 
the  virtue  he  prized  the  most,  and  he  was  a  sincere 
advocate  of  religious  freedom. 

Mr.  Ellery  was  a  self-made  man,  and  his  success 
was  the  result  of  self-inspection  and  self-resistance. 


CHAPTER    XX. 

FIRST    BAPTIST    CHURCH. SECOND    BAPTIST. CENTRAL    BAPTIST. 

METHODIST. UNITARIAN. EPISCOPAL      MISSION. FRIENDS. 

ROMAN    CATHOLIC. CONGREGATIONAL. UNION    COLORED 

¥E  should  here  make  mention  of  the  churches  of 
Newport  that  have  not  already  appeared  in 
these  pages. 

The  First  Baptist  Church  stands  on  Spring  Street, 
to  the  rear  of  the  State  House.  The  society  was 
formed  very  early  in  the  history  of  the  country — 
either  in  May,  1639,  or  March,  1638.  It  has  been  a 
matter  of  dispute  between  this  society  and  the  First 
Baptist  Church  in  Providence,  which  is  entitled  to 
priority. 

Dr.  John  Clark  was  the  first  pastor,  and  the  first 
place  of  worship  for  the  society  was  erected  on  Green 
End.  The  society  was  at  different  times  under  the 
pastoral  charge  of  Rev.  Obediah  Holmes,  a  graduate 
of  Oxford  ;  Rev.  John  Comer  ;  Rev.  John  Callender, 
whose  historical  sermon,  preached  March,  1738,  will 
ever  be  prized  by  Rhode  Islanders  ;  Rev.  Michael 
Eddy,  who  discharged  the  duties  of  his  office  a  pe- 
riod of  nearly  fifty  years,  and  many  others,  distinguish- 
ed alike  for  their  labors  of  love  and  devotion  to  the 
cause  of  Christ. 

The  society  at  the  present  time  is  under  the  charge 
of  Rev.  S.  Adlam. 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED.  107 

The  Second  Baptist  Church  was  established  in 
1656 — the  first  pastor  was  Rev.  Wm.  Vaughan,  who 
presided  over  the  society  till  1677.  Among  his  suc- 
cessors the  more  distinguished  were  Rev.  Gardner 
Thurston ;  Rev.  Mr.  Elton  and  Rev.  M.  Gammell — 
the  latter,  respected  and  beloved  in  no  ordinary  de- 
gree, was  sudden  struck  down  by  death  in  1827,  in 
the  midst  of  great  usefulness.  His  memory  is  cher- 
ished by  members  of  all  denominations  who  were  so 
fortunate  as  to  possess  his  friendship. 

The  present  pastor  is  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  O.  Choules. 

The  Second  Baptist  Church  stands  at  the  corner  of 
Meeting  and  Farewell  Streets,  and  is  a  gothic  struc- 
ture, built  of  wood. 

The  Central  Baptist  Society  worship  at  their  church 
in  Clarke  Street.  They  were  established  in  1847, 
purchased  the  edifice  formerly  occupied  by  the  Second 
Congregational  Church,  and  invited  Rev.  Henry  Jack- 
son to  be  their  pastor,  who  still  presides  over  the 
c  hurch. 

The  building  has  been  lengthened,  raised,  modern- 
ized within  and  without,  and  is  now  a  pleasing  and 
most  comfortable  church.  Before  the  change  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  interior  was  very  cold  and  repulsive. 

This  edifice  was  set  on  fire  by  lightning  in  1764, 
and  in  Dr.  Stiles'  Diary,  for  August  20,  1 666,  we  find 
the  following  entry 

"Dr.  Franklin's  Electrical  Points  were  erected  a  top  the  spire 
of  my  steeple.  From  the  iron  spindle  there  descended  two 
lines  of  iron  rod  or  wire,  adown  the  N.  E.  and  S.  E.  corners  of 
the  steeple  to  the  ground.  The  points  were  of  large  brass  wire, 
extending  about  a  foot  above  the  vane.  They  are  the  first  and 
only  electrical  rods  erected  in  the  colony  of  Rhode  Island,  upon 


108  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 

any  Meeting  House,  or  any  public  buildings,  and  I  think  there 
is  but  one  private  house  in  the  Colony  guarded  with  them.  In 
Boston,  Cambridge,  and  a  few  other  places  in  New  England, 
points  have  lately  been  erected  upon  a  few  Meeting  Houses, 
and  the  Colleges." 

The  Methodist  Church  is  located  on  Marlborough 
Street.     It  was  erected  in  1806. 

The  first  clergyman  of  this  denomination  was  set- 
tled in  Newport  in  1805.  A  society  was  shortly  built 
up,  the  present  structure  erected,  and  the  church  has 
continued  to  prosper  and  increase.  It  is  now  under 
the  charge  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Lovejoy. 

The  Unitarian  Society  worship  at  their  church  on 
Mill  Street.  The  society  was  organized  in  1835, 
and  shortly  after  they  purchased  the  church  formerly 
occupied  by  the  First  Congregational  Church,  under 
the  late  Dr.  Hopkins.  The  building  was  completely 
modernized,  and  in  turn  we  have  the  present  pleasing 
structure,  which  was  dedicated  in  1836,  and  the 
following  year  the  Rev.  Chas.  T.  Brooks  was  ordained 
as  the  pastor.  Mr.  Brooks  has  continued  to  preside 
over  the  society ;  not  a  year  since  he  took  passage 
for  India,  looking  to  a  change  of  scene  and  clime  to 
restore  his  wasted  energies. 

In  the  lot  to  the  west  of  the  church,  Aug.  5,  1770, 
Rev.  Geo.  Whitefield  preached  in  the  open  air  to  the 
crowds  who  gathered  to  hear  him.  The  table  on 
which  he  stood  is  still  in  use  in  the  vestry  of  the 
Congregational  Church. 

A  few  years  since,  an  Episcopal  Mission  was  es- 
tablished in  the  south  part  of  the  city ;  a  number  of 
families  soon  collected  together,  the  room  in  which 
thev    met  was    found    too    small    to    accommodate 


NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED.  109 

them,  and  a  building  (formerly  erected  for  a  place  of 
worship,  but  then  unoccupied)  was  hired,  and  the 
society — now  known  as  Emanuel  Church — was  es- 
tablished. The  church  has  continued  to  prosper,  and 
it  has  been  sustained  principally  through  contributions 
from  Trinity  Church.  Probably  a  handsome  church 
will  shortly  be  built  for  the  society,  through  the  libe- 
rality of  a  few  friends  of  the  cause,  who  have  already 
subscribed  for  that  purpose  a  handsome  sum. 

The  society  is  under  the  charge  of  Rev.  K.  J. 
Stewart. 

The  Society  of  Friends  was  early  established  on 
this  Island.  The  first  record  of  their  monthly  meet- 
ings dates  from  1676.  The  annual  meeting  of  the 
society  for  the  New  England  States,  is  held  in  this 
city  during  the  month  of  June.  There  are  two  meet- 
ing-houses belonging  to  the  two  divisions  ;  the  one  on 
Mann  Avenue,  and  the  other  on  Tanner  Street.  The 
latter  was  erected  about  1700. 

In  the  early  history  of  the  colony,  the  most  influen- 
tial men  in  the  public  council  were  of  the  Society  of 
Friends.  Many  members  left  the  Island  on  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  Revolution,  never  to  return,  but  the 
number  residing  within  the  county  is  Sill  large. 

There  are  two  Roman  Catholic  Churches  in  New- 
port, both  belonging  to  one  society.  The  one,  on 
Mount  Vernon  Street,  was  built  in  1836.  It  was 
slightly  constructed,  and  already  exhibits  the  marks 
of  decay.  The  other,  dedicated  within  the  past  year, 
stands  on  Spring  Street,  and  is  a  great  ornament  to 
the  city.  It  is  of  freestone,  gothic  in  style,  and  when 
10 


110  NEWPORT     ILLUSTRATED. 

the  spire  is  completed,  the  effect  from  the  harbor  will 
be  very  imposing. 

This  church  is  under  the  charge  of  Rev.  James 
Fitten. 

The  Congregational  Church  stands  at  the  corner 
of  Spring  and  Pelham  Streets,  on  an  elevated  site, 
and  shaded  by  a  fine  old  English  walnut,  that  is  still 
strong  and  vigorous,  though  it  has  withstood  the 
storms  of  more  than  a  hundred  winters. 

Prior  to  1833,  there  were  two  Congregational  so- 
cieties in  Newport — the  one  in  Clarke  Street,  now 
the  Central  Baptist ;  the  other  in  Mill  Street,  now 
the  Unitarian — but  as  neither  society  was  in  a  pros- 
perous condition,  it  was  deemed  expedient  to  join  the 
two  bodies  in  one.  The  above  edifice  was  erected 
in  1834,  and  the  society  has  rapidly  increased  in 
size,  and  is  now  one  of  the  largest  and  most  influen- 
tial in  the  city ;  and  we  are  under  the  impression 
that  a  new  edifice,  larger  and  every  way  an  improve- 
ment on  the  present  structure,  will  be  shortly  erected. 
The  society  is  at  present  under  the  charge  of  Rev. 
Thatcher  Thayer. 

The  colored  population  of  Newport  have  a  church 
of  their  own,  in  Division  Street,  known  as  the  Union 
Church.  The  society  was  established  in  1824,  and 
in  1835  they  purchased  the  present  building,  which 
they  raised  and  greatly  improved.  The  society  at 
present  is  under  the  charge  of  Rev.  Mr.  Gardner. 


y 


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